What I love about using the fleece backings, and I've made over 100 with them, is that you only have to quilt to stabilize the top and backing together. No worries about a middle layer that might shift or ball up. You can quilt as little or as much as you wish, even going so far as to outline a 12" square with no other stitching within it.
I agree about the thin fleece being harder to work with, but generally you won't find that for sale in a fabric section. You will find it in thrift stores, hemmed with a logo of some sort on it. Just be cautious when shopping there to check the fleece for density and stretch.