After watching many JD tutorials, I see a lot of things in them that most people wouldn't do in their own sewing room. Having limited time to make her videos may have something to do with the apparent shortcuts she takes sometimes. This is not a bad thing. When she tapes her tutes, her own accuracy may not be "perfect" from our point of view. Her focus is to show us how to do something and not how to be perfect. Her style and instructions come across well.
As for not pressing 1/4" seams. As long as they nest well, you should be fine. press carefully at the end of completing the block.
consider the techniques used before there were modern irons and sewing machines. Quilts were probably never pressed during construction except for finger pressing. Just a thought.
peace