I'm not up to date with improvements to the Sweet 16, so I don't know if there is some kind of new stitch regulator the shop associate was referring to. The original stitch regulator was very annoying and impractical, in my opinion, and was too much trouble to bother with. It wasn't something internal; rather, you had to move it along with your quilt while quilting, and it took over the foot pedal function. I found that I had much more trouble quilting designs when my foot wasn't involved in the process. I don't remember exactly what was involved in the set-up, but it wasn't difficult and any parts needed would surely come with the regulator if you bought one. Hopefully someone who uses the regulator will chime in here with better information.