I second this....It's less transparent and you can find great tone-on-tone that shows solid. The plain white just seens too plain for me.

You could buy a nice grade muslin at Jo Anns Or possibly even Wal Mart. I am going to make a white quilt using muslin it is a good long lasting fabric used for years and years by the early quilters.
Pickle

I use the white tone on tone fabric. It gives the white background some texture. Always buy it when my LQS has
it on sale. Even like the off white tone on tone better.
White seems so stark. But it depends on the quilt and each individuals taste.

I use percale or broadcloth.

Kona solids are wonerful/ I use nothing else. Of course I don't use a lot of solid colors in my quilts either.

Tone on tone !

I like Kona or a nice white on white.

Kona cotton for me, but truthfully I don't use white unless I absolutely have to and then try to use a tone on tone...

I like to use white on white sometimes - it looks pretty and adds just a little eye interest.

I buy Kona White and Kona Snow by the bolt at JoAnne's when it is on sale. That takes it to about $3 per yard. Be aware, Kona solids have a bit larger thread than some of the quilters cottons, but you can't beat the price. I like a lot of contrast and clean whites. If I am using batiks, or lots of tone on tone, I will do the tone on tone white. It is so much pricier though.