i totally agree! I have both and love them!

I have a Bernina 710, which has the built in dual feed and I can tell you, the real walking foot is necessary for more than two layers. Bernina recommends use of the walking foot for, "more than two layers".

The Bernina dual feed LOOKS just like the Pfaff dual feed, but it is not like it. I don't know why....an engineering mistake...????, or on purpose so we would still have to pay $150-$200 for the Bernina walking foot.

There is a difference in dual feed and a walking foot. My son used to work at a sewing machine store and he told me that the walking foot is designed to move both bottom and top where the dual feed pulls the top as it sews and the feed dogs just work normally. Hope this helps.

Joanneg - I also have the same sewing machines as you with the WF for the 440. I've not tried it with my 710 but read that it does not work so well. Would love to hear any further comments on your experience.

I have the 820 with dual-feed and I would still like to have a walking foot. I liked my old Bernina with the walking foot better than the 820 with dual-feed.

When I purchased my 880 I was told I didn't need the walking foot because the machine has dual feed. I tried using it on quilts and ended up getting the walking foot anyway. I think it is a worthwhile purchase.

I bought a Pfaff QE 4.2 so I could have the real dual feed(aka:IDT). I tried the Bernina 710 and wasn't impressed at all.
Sharon in Texas

My first impulse was to say you don't need a walking foot with dual feed. I would have been wrong. Thank you to Okie2tx for asking, and to those who answered from experience.
I learn so much from this board!

I had a Bernina 820 with the dual feed & also had the Walking Foot. Most of the time the dual feed was fine BUT on heavier items the Walking Foot performed better than the dual feed. I bought the Walking Foot from the dealer that I purchased my 820 from & I'm sure she would have told me if I didn't need one or if it would damage the machine.