I have learned to slow down when FMQ -- it takes a lot of repition to do it well and if I try to hurry I make mistakes (and by the time I get to the quilting, I am always in a hurry to finish, so this is a constant battle).
I pin to the left of the needle (points toward the needle) -- I can use my 1/4" foot with the flange, I can make sure the pin is out of the way of the presser for (I glue interssections together) and I can pull out the pins with my left hand if the pins are in the way.