On the ruler I have with the sticky backing, it is easy to "adjust" the amount of stick it has. You can also clean off the sticky part if it loses it's stick. When I don't want it so sticky, I just push it up and down into some batting. Oh, and I also can just flip my ruler over to the non-sticky side if I really want to glide it along. It is not hard to move though but the little bit of stickiness helps me hold the ruler in position without having to work too hard.