NEVER! I'd rather put a dot of glue or use a glue pin if the intersection is that problematic. Otherwise, I finger pin, unless I'm doing a border or will remove pins just as I come up on them. I too, learned the hard way about whacking out my timing, causing burrs on my hook race and breaking needles. It's just not worth it.
I use Clover Patchwork Pins, seen here:
http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/Item--i-CL2507
CLOVER PATCHWORK PINS 100 PER PKG
Extra-fine type of pin, which smoothly passes through cloth. Useful when pinning down precisely for detailed piecework. The head is made of glass, which is a good heat insulator. 100 per package.
Happy sewing,