My experience with the sewing machine is from working in a clothing fabric.
When I first started, I was setting zippers into hip pockets WITHOUT pins.
I worked there 4.5 yrs and in all that time, I only saw two pins (when I was FIRST starting getting educated).
Pins have their place, but I always go by production work. If it was being made in a factory, there were no pins, so I figure out how to get it done that way ...
And, we never ironed between operations, either ... except for an operation that put the crease into the hip pockets of Levis - - that was a special jig and press iron ...
From time to time, however, I do appreciate a hot, steamy iron to knock down those massive intersections that happen during, oh ... pinwheels, some stars ...
I am glad that you had a good experience with learning production sewing. <wave>