I just discovered that My Singer doesn't have a straight stitch throat plate option. What the Singer tech said about my fabric being eaten by the slot is that the stitch length might need to be adjusted, and that to use a new needle for each project, and I am guessing that once you transition from piecing to quilting, to also change the needle.
So I guess I have answered one question already. Any other suggestions or comments would be welcomed, as I usually try to make the threads I start useful to others with similar problems.