I pin baste. Since my knee surgery I've been pinning on top of my cutting table (which is an old dining room table with several leaves). I'm kind of frugal. So, since I've already bought the pins I figure I may as well continue to use them since I have never had an issue with puckers on my backs. I pin very closely (a palm width apart) as recommended by Alex Anderson. I also like the sound of those pins hitting wood! That soft clink, clink is appealing for some reason :-)