So much great information! I think my two biggest problems are that my machine is not flush and sits above the table surface so everything is always uphill, and working with the wrong foot pressure and foot. I don't even have an extension table so my actual surface area is very small and I don't see that changing. Guess it's back to straight line quilting for me. I really don't mind so much, I get a lot of quilts done that way and people seem to like it ok.
My favorite saying is Bloom Where You Are Planted, and I seem to be planted smack in the middle of straight line quilting! LOL