I too have been sewing most of my life and learned from my mother, that layout directions in clothing patterns were just a 'suggestion'. She also always wanted to use the least amount of fabric possible. She could put together 4 patterns to get a dress with just the right sleeve, neckline, waist and skirt.
If it is a new technique, I really try to follow the directions the first time. And I have found errors or poorly written directions but have never contacted the pattern writer. What irritates me the most, is being shorted fabric in a kit. That happened once and I never heard back from the company, even tho they were still selling the kit on their website. Now if I buy a kit, I immediately open it and measure every piece of fabric.