Mom used to drill into us the importance of careful cutting. I still remember her frustration after a Girl Scout meeting at our house when she found a piece of felt with the heart cut out of the very middle - so an argument for fussy cutting could not be made either. This may have been the same meeting where someone gave the cat a haircut (not sure how she managed that as this was a cat who did not hesitate to show her claws when displeased). I do cringe a bit when fussy cutting to this day.
Cheers, K