Bill,
In most cases, anything you do on a boat is a compromise between
what it 'ought to be' and what's possible. Since the backstay (or
frontstay) is ~there~ anyway, why not use it? Certainly not the
'best' thing in the world (whatever that is), but 'better' than most
alternative$.
Some people have a 'phobia' about tuners. If you don't want to
use one, that's fine. They do make 'things' much easier and the
difference in performance is 'acceptible' in most cases (acceptible
being relative). Since there are alternatives, pick the one you think
you can 'live' with and go with it. "You pays your money and takes your
choice", as they used to say in the house with the red velvet wall paper...
'Doc

PS - Not that I've ever been in one of those houses, I've just read
about them...