I have used minky many times... it is much softer than fleece. (fleece is nice too though). I have never found minky any harder to work with than fleece.
I usually baste my quilts with 505 spray or elmers glue. I don't use pins at all.
I cut the back bigger than the top... probably a few inches overhang on all sides. After I am done with the quilting I trim everything to the same size