I have no idea how many log cabin quilts I have made from her book over the last 32 years. I have also taught high school students to make this quilt. I'm not sure whether I've seen the newer book or not. The orginal book was before rotary cutters. Believe it or not, we tore our strips.
The last few times I have made this with a group of ladies working on the same quilt. There are always differences in our sewing. I did square up blocks about half way through, then added a wider than 2 1/2" strips, and then squared up the final time. The little differences in the block after the final row, don't show up with this method.
To me cutting the strips to length would add a lot of time.
Either way it is a fun block with so many possibilites. I live in a log house and consider this my favorite block. Have fun.