ive been taught wrong i guess and been doing it "wrong" for 30 years and i have rarely seen it done the "right" in my opinion the "right" way looks sloppy and i am not sure how it would be done on an exterior panel. i just dont understand how somthing like this could be overlooked @ least state wide and then this new inspector tells us we got it wrong. so that is why it is difficult to do it the "right way"
There are electricians that will make the PROPER installation look like art work, others will make it passable and yet others will make an installation that is workable but scary looking.
There are rules laid out in the NEC, and no matter what someone told you, showed you, taught you, and EVEN if the local inspectors allow it the NEC sets the rules. If you ara accepts the NEC and unless there are local changes in the NEC, you IMO should abide by the NEC.
Now the AHJ can look the other way, make his own field rules and allow what he wants, this happens all the time.