WMUTeach

Like many things with quilting or any craft, practice makes a big difference. I too was frustrated by too many tails and facing hours of additional time to bury all of those ends. With time and experience with Free Motion Quilting I have fewer tails because of broken threads, errors in my FM quilting or running out of thread in my bobbin.

One thing I found that helps a lot is planning my FM quilting and ALWAYS start with a full bobbin. I also have a clear plastic cover over my bobbin area. I check often to see how much thread is left on the bobbin and try to end my FM at the edge. Yup, I get a number of bobbins with just a little thread on them but, I use them when piecing when it is less critical to have to stop and change the bobbin. This works for me and I have "cut" the number of tails to bury by 2/3 or more.

Fastpedal

I don't like the look of micro stitches. Had a quilt done by a LAQer and she started and ended this way. I was very upset that her beginning and ending stitches showed. I pull all my threads to the back and tie as I would if I were hand quilting. Just one of the quirks I have to live with. I like doing pantograms because that way I can start in the seam and end in the seam. I just finished a quilt with 32 blocks, 32 sashings, 32 corner squares, setting triangles and the borders and I tied every know. A lot of work but I like the end results. It really depends on what look you can live with. Neither is right or wrong.