I hate basting. I think that is the one part of quilting that just bogs me down. I'm good with making the top, with quilting, and even love doing bindings, but sandwhiching and basting - blech! One thing I will do occasionally is use the water soluble thread to thread baste. It's wonderful in that you don't have to worry about removing it as you are quilting since it disappears when you block your quilt after the quilting process. It is a tad pricey, which is why I don't do it with all my projects. Still, it is very helpful, especially if you are working on a deadline and need to finish up quick.
~Tiffany