Joe, this one is so much better! In fact, I really don't see anything wrong with it. Awesome! I'll be interested to see your new design you talked about.
I think machine sewing is perfectly legitimate. In fact, as far as I can tell, it's harder than hand sewing. Faster, maybe, but finicky. My husband uses a CNC machine to automatize parts of his instrument building, and there are some people who think it's cheating, but machines cause as many problems as they solve. Or rather, people who sew with machines have to become skilled at it, just as you have to with handsewing. It's not really taking the easy way out.