I have to ask, because I have never heard of it, why would you avoid manually turning the handwheel? It seems like that would be necessary if you were doing something like checking the needle drop location for applique and other location-specific sewing.
If you want to use the needle threader, the needle needs to be in the correct position -- the position that is determined by the machine's needle-up setting. Turning the handwheel manually can also tangle the threads around the toggle switches (in the bobbin area).
Of course, if you're appliqueing and other location-specific sewing, yes, turn the handwheel toward you. Not back and forth.