Exactly why I prefer the half yard widths.

Either. I'm looking for the variety.

And from online shops that do offer it, I'm just glad to be able to buy twice the amount of different fabrics, do I don't really care which way it comes.

Unless I were doing something and I need a larger than an 8.5" square. And I never do. ;-)

it depends on what i plan to do with the fabric, sometimes i want the whole width of the fabric (skinny 1/4's)...sometimes i need wider-shorter pieces and fq's will work. also one of our lqs...charge ALOT more (by the yard) for fq's...it is much cheaper to buy the regular 1/4 yd piece....8.95 yd... 1/4 yd=$2.24...she charges $3.50 for fq's ($4 if batiks or flannels)
so i take that into account too.

I usually don't buy just a quarter yard, as I am not fond of scrappy quilts. I would buy at least a yard or two.

If I could only have a 1/4, then I'll take skinny. I like to have the width of fabric. Though when I purchase, I don't buy less than 1/2 yard, rather have a bit left over than not enough and find the store is out of what I'm short of.

It doesn't really matter to me, i buy whichever the LQS carries. Some of ours ask, when i order 1/4 yard from the bolt which i want, which i think is great of them.

I prefer yardage. I buy FQ for stash occassionally. Skinny 8th very rarely only if I need a smidgon of a color I dislike. I am a prewasher, so yardage and FQ hold up better then the skinny things.

it all depends on the fabric. if it is stripy then i like a skinny if it is just a lovely print a fat. but i really prefer yardage. I have a ton of fq's that I am trying to use or sell to make room for more yardage.

Isn't stash building with quarter yards kind of like saving for retirement with pennies? Yeah, you can do it, but it's a very long (and higher priced) road. :?

prefer fat, but am okay with skinny if it is a good price. But I tend to like more of a scrappy look.