Amazing....remember those measuring machines they used to use at the fabric (material) stores years ago. They always tore the fabric where the machine made the cut mark for the amount of yardage you desired.
I tear the larger piece of fabric, then line it up to cut the rest of the fabric. We didn't have rotary cutters back then and used our scissors and didn't have problems. The main problem people have now is that the fabric is not always put on the bolt correctly which makes the fabric off design.
There are many opinions on which method is preferrable.....whatever works for you. There is no one correct answer in quilting...only preferred methods for each of us for by our own methods of trial and error way of learning.
Not to get off subject.. but I've read on here that even quilting patterns were off on their cutting measurements....that's why I create my own. I'd hate to run out of fabric because I cut according to someone's wrong measurements especially in a published article. I have used patterns before but I always made trial blocks out of muslin before committing to my fabric.
I'm just trying to say that there is a method for everyone and no right or wrong way.