basting is used for many different temporary stitching applications...
including sandwiching a quilt- some of us prefer basting over dealing with those pins that are so hard on the fingers-
or we hate the spray crap that you need to go outside with---or at least have good ventilation and room to spread everything out to use.
there are lots of different methods to accomplish the same thing- some of us were taught to baste- do it quickly and efficiently and just find it the way to go.
i took a class once and was (suckered into) purchasing 500 bent pins and this (gadget) to help open them---
what a pain!
what took me about 4 hours to accomplish i could have had basted in an hour...so those pins and their handy little tool live in the bottom of a box for the past 8 years...once in a while i need a pin for something and *borrow* one.
i tried the spray (stuff) once- it was ok i guess on a little doll quilt---was smelly- messy- time consuming...and again- i believe i could have done a better job if i had just grabbed a needle and some thread.
just my 2 cents worth