I must be a control freak. I pre-shrink cotton battings, because I don't want any surprises. I don't care for the crinkled look. I know that quilts have 3 dimensions, but I work hard to keep things smooth, and I want to keep the smoothness as much as possible.
And, yes, I do pre-wash the fabric, as I have mentioned ad nauseum on the threads about bleeding!
Dayle