This is a very interesting thread!
I took a FMQ class with Shirley Stutz and she recommended using a size 90 jeans needle. She had us do a very interesting exercise where we poked a quilt sandwich sample with different sewing machine needles. There is a huge difference in how well different needles pierce the sandwich. The universal needle was one of the dullest we tried. Try this exercise yourself and I bet you will be suprised at the differences. Now I use a 90 jeans for quilting and a quilting needle which is a sharp for piecing. This has really helped me.