I have not made many quilts but one I made used seriously less fabric than I had expected (backer and binding) and I believe it was partly due to the fact that I did NOT do scant 1/4 inch seams.
So on the BOM I did with lots of triangles and small pieces I centered my needle and shifted it slightly to the right.
It stays there now.
I believe that the BOM went together so well because I was consistent with that scant 1/4-inch seam.
I ripped almost no seams and what little easing I had to do did not lead to actual gathers and puckers.
I will also add that I sewed seams in the same direction when on the diagonal. That is, I tried not to stretch the diagonal when sewing to other pieces and sewed so that the stitching itself pulled the fabric back to square (if that makes sense).
Whatever size seam you do, it is obviously important to be consistent: 1/4 or scant 1/4.
From another post: "I do find, that if I don't move my needle a tad to the right, when I am done with the blocks, they are not 12.5 as many swaps specify."
Ditto from me!