I found that having the machine recessed doesn't help if the table is too high, because it's the table surface height that determines how far up the shoulders go. We recently bought and DH spent a lot of time assembling a recessed cabinet, only to find that I couldn't use it because of shoulder and wrist issues. I think sewing tables these days are made to a standard height of between 29 and 30 inches, whereas my Handi-Quilter Sweet 16 table is significantly lower (no shoulder hunching there). It's a real dilemma for the shorter quilter.