Pressing seams open like in garment making is coming back to the quilting world. It helps not having all that bulk at intersections.
I finger press or use my wooden iron to press open before going to the iron to prevent burning my fingers. Then I steam press, not iron the back of the block, then flip it over to make sure I have not pressed any pleats into the front seams making sure all seams are flat, then I iron the front.
Seams pressed open are much easier to quilt by hand also. Ask me how I know this. :roll: