When differentiating between two installation methods, both of which meet code, and both of which have been listed by a suitable testing lab, qualifying one as a 'hack' and the other as 'good workmanship' is at best a gut feeling supplemented by experience and anecdote.
'We all know that backstabs are bad.' Seems to me that well controlled spring tension in a device would do a better job of making a splice than a randomly tightened screw. At the same time I would never use a backstab.
Connecting two sets of wires to a device. When working with stranded wire and commercial 'back wire' receptacles, my _gut_ feeling is that the screw and pressure plate of the receptacle would make a better splice than a wire-nut. Barring multi-wire circuits, I will by preference connect multiple pairs of wires to such a receptacle.
-Jon
