I've been practicing FMQ for 15 years and can now do a fairly decent meander and loop de loops, but don't have the talent to do anything fancier. I know a couple gals that can't cut or sew straight but can do tiny little vases with flowers, etc., on a rinky dinky el cheapo little brother with barely enough room for your hand, and she does this WITH a walking foot, not a FM foot. There's lots of people that have certain talents to do different things, I'm not one of those.
It does reduce the drag of the quilt if the table or whatever your machine sits on is even with the bed of your machine. Also throat space helps tremendously.
Welcome to the Board.