The way you were taught is a good way to sew pieces and blocks togdther.
I do not backstitch when making a quilt - I don ' t seem to be able to be sble to " back up on the same line " - and then that line gets puckerhy or waddy
when I sm making something that says "stop stitching 1/4 inch from the edge" when doing something like a y- seam, I stop and tie the threads instrsd of backstitching because I think my knot is less bulky than back- stitching st that point.