I love a straight line stitch plate, but do all my piecing with a zig-zag. Reason: I have to move the needle to get an accurate 1/4" & especially scant 1/4" & you can't do that with a straight line plate. I, too, have broken needles, forgetting which plate I have on the machine.
Stitching with my zigzag plate, I have to have a leader or hold the thread when I start. Otherwise, I get birds nest & other worse things....fabric gets punched all the way down into the bobbin & more. Regardless...I will piece on any machine, but some things make it easier & moving the needle is a biggy for me.