I machine sew my binding front and back, and found not pressing in half makes is so much easier. I do bias sew the stirps together and press those seams open. I think if I was hand sewing this would be much less of an issue. With pressing in half, I would really struggle with it wanting to crease when machine sewing it on top, but without pressing that never happens. I like that I can bind a large quilt in about an hour total (because I really don't like binding).