Yes, leaving it in the machine after the cycle is done will surely make the crust thicker and drier. I have an older model and it gives me the option of choosing a lighter crust setting. If you can't do that, simply remove the bread from the machine before the cycle is finished. Just hold down the start button until it stops the cycle and remove the pan. You will have to experiment with how soon to remove it. I would start with 5 minutes and go from there. Good luck!
Wanda
January 2007