I have a stitch regulator but no robotics--and don't want it both because of price and frankly, I like the free motion and ruler work. It took me about a year before I really felt like I could do a quilt without tension, design or "me" problems on a consistent basis! I do find that when I'm off the frame for any length of time (like when I got my 2nd knee replacement or when I was replacing the wheels and the order was not coming through, or even just a vacation trip)I do need to put something on that I can practice before I load a quilt for a customer or one that I want to be really nice!
On her blog, Angela Walters suggests that everytime you take a quilt off the frame, that you put one on immediately so you have quilting work on a regular basis--so even it's just cheap practice fabric I've been doing that and trying to mess around on the frame for a little every day or every other day. (it also keeps the oil in the machine moving to where it needs to be
