Oh dear,
I'm glad your family members or not members of MY family....we'd likely have lots of 'alpha dog' disagreements!
I don't use a thimble.
I push the needle with the NAIL on my index finger, right hand.
I use a hoop, balanced on my knee, curled up in my comfy chair.
I mark with a *pencil*. Washable, sure, but still a graphite pencil.
I quilt with a less-than-traditional larger thread - usually a Sulky 12 weight cotton or 10 weight crochet thread.
I use a larger regular sewing - not quilting - needle to accommodate the larger thread.
I guess *I* don't do anything "The proper way"!
Jan in VA