My preferred method is to the side, but in actual application, it depends entirely upon the individual project. The fabrics used, the piecing pattern, any appliqué or embellishments to be added, the quilting planned...all those go into my decision on which way to press the seam allowances.
My thoughts on the group that walked away when they saw Lori's seams were pressed open are this: perhaps, just perhaps, their walking away (and maybe even rolling their eyes as they did) was simply because they knew that, despite admiring and understanding the obvious benefits, there was no way they would ever devote the time or energy required to press their own seams open.
That doesn't make them 'quilt police', just makes them acutely aware of their own limitations and maybe (dare I say hopefully?) even frustrated by being held prisoner by them. In other words, more of a self-judgement than a judgement of Lori.
