Ghostrider,
I think we are talking about the same thing when you say "applique stitch" and I say "whip stitch". Too many of these teachers -- especially the ones online -- all use different terms & some of them I have now found even use the term "whip stitch" to mean blanket stitch. Others use whip stitch to mean looping through the front, and yet others (like those I've seen in person & on the internet) use the term whip stitch interchangeably with "applique stitch". So confusing!!!!!!!!!
I did finally find something on Connecting Threads once I used the term "blind" stitch (you're right, it's not a true blind). They said that the applique stitch gives a smoother finish. So I think that's what I'm going to stick with going forward. It's the first stitch I learned & is much easier for me to do.