Crashnquilt, Great conversation!!! You have said what many longarm quilters have probably wanted to say on here. May I add a bit (or maybe I missed reading it in your post) - Longarmers need a backing that has the edges even if it is seamed together, not one side an inch or two longer than the other. And, as said so many times before visit with your longarm quilter about your top and backing. She/he may enjoy the pieced backings and find that seams running both directions are not a problem. Twisted seams may not cause a problem, unless the longarmer is going to be doing SID. It really is a matter of the piecer knowing their quilter and the quilter knowing their piecer.