I guess I am a heretic. Even though I have a thread cabinet full of lots of different kind of thread, Gutterman, and other expensive stuff, I tend to grab the 1200 yard Coats & Clark mercerized cotton, large spools when I am piecing. I use some of the fancy stuff for clothing construction. I don't have any of the problems that other people complain about.
I know what you mean. For years I've used the inexpensive poly cotton threads and had no problems of any kind. In fact the fuzzy blob tangled around the guide was my fault for not looking and cleaning that part since it never happened on my old Singer. My oldest quilts from the early 80s are still holding up fine. I just sold two of them.
I do clean my machine bobbin area and oil it every time after I use it for a long session though.
Where in the bobbin area do you oil or do you mean the "head" machinery?
I use a vacuum to get all the dust bunnies out. There really isn't a lot of difference in the amount of dust bunnies with the various cotton threads I have. There are probably a number I have not tried yet that may differ in that regard, though. I think each machine is partial to a particular thread and chokes on one kind or another, as some people attest. I must have the C & C type machine, or I just am not that demanding.
Do you have any of your work online where I can see it? :^)
John