I have trained my dogs to free stack too. I just feel IMO that it looks better and shows that I have been working with them - and I am not a novice. It shows the dog off better too. Now,one has it down to a T. I do not bait him, but praise him and it works so much better for him. My other one needs to be moved forward on the table to show her great shoulders - my trainer said to bait her and it works. What a difference. She always had these really nice shoulders, but if you don't have her standing right it won't show them off.
Different dogs need different training.
T.