Eleanor Burns, and other teachers, use that technique where you have several (not just two) seams meeting. I personally don't press seams open unless I absolutely have to...I think it weakens the seam a little, and, if the thread of the seam should break, the batting can show thru since there is no back layer of fabric to cover the "hole". Each sewist has her/his own technique on this...besides, burning fingers is a lot more probably when pressing open quarter inch seams vs. opening five eights inch seams like in regular sewing. One technique I've seen used is to have something handy at your ironing board or machine that will allow you to add extra pressure on the bulky section and help with the pressing. I actually have a small hammer and it's amazing how much flatter a "knot" can get if you whack it a time or two on a firm, flat surfact...we use our irons to flatten seams, the hammer or other heavier object adds a little more pressure in the difficult spots.