No, it was my vintage machine that mentioned it in its book (it had belonged to a friend's grandmother before me).
There was a latch/spot in the internal bar that had to be in place in order for you to actually change anything other than stitch length. That included going into zigzag mode and most adjustments and it said to have the foot down to change the tension as well.
The Bernina and I are learning to work together... I think it is very fussy but I will say that in a year I haven't broken a needle or had other problems while sewing -- sometimes it is just getting the sewing going is the hard part.