Receptacle Replacement

[NEC User]

I am changing out old receptacles in my house with new tamper resistant receptacles. Some old receptacles have back wiring where I have to push a button in the back to release the wires. Unfortunately, the button in the back is impossible to push due to limited slack in the wires so I practically destroy the receptacle to remove the wires. Other older receptacles had the phase and neutral wires wrapped around the screw on the side (similar to how the ground is connected to the green screw).

For my replacement with newer receptacles, I have been wrapping the neutral and phase wires around the screws on the side and then tightly screwing to secure the wire in place. I must have replaced at least 15 or so like this already. I recently noticed that if I unscrew the side screws it creates space in the back that I believe I'm supposed to put the phase and neutral wires into and then tighten the screw to clamp the wire in place. This sure makes for an easier replacement.

Which method of connecting the phase and neutral wire is better? Should I undo the ones I already did and make them all the same?

 

[GoldDigger]

It is a matter of individual preference between pressure plate type back wiring and side wiring.
Both are reliable. Side wiring does not work as well for stranded wire IMHO.
Back wiring may be easier to get in and out of the box or it may be harder depending on the layout.
Back stab (what you originally had) is pretty much universally despised on this forum, in part because early implementations were flat out unsafe. (Again IMO}

Note: I am interpreting this as more "why is it that way?" than as a DIY question.

 

[JFletcher]

Pressure plate or side screw are about the same in reliability, so I wouldnt redo the ones you've already done. Only caveat I have, with short wires like you have, is that using the pressure plate, the wires can partially pull out before you get the screws tight. If the wires are that short tho, it's better to pigtail, then use either method.