It sounds to me that most of the issues, tools, problems, solutions and techniques here stem from the idea that most craftsmen today are using retail available tools. Here's some of the ideas I've learned over the decades;
If you are using pricking irons, follow James Rogers' advice and don't punch all the way through the leather. Let a good tapered and polished awl finish the hole because you will have some control that gets lost with a pre-punched hole.
If you are using a chisel, it will be inherently harder to keep stitches tighter and more even because of the slant in the slits....harder but not impossible.
Regardless, try this technique...Wax the living $#@* out of your thread, including periodically while you are stitching. Before you close each stitch, look down at it in the pony. The thread and needle you passed from the right should ALWAYS be BEHIND the first thread you passed in from the left. EITHER bring the left needle up through the loop OR bring the right needle down through the loop. That way, when you close the stitch there will be a half cast in each stitch. I'd take issue with Mr. Armstrong about how it does not help because that knot, similar to the one you make when you tie your shoes, will hold much better than a machine stitch because of the tightness and the wax.
Ref Everyman a Cobbler 1 and 2 and start tapering your thread. Tandy has a smaller set of needles and the ten penny nails shown in most videos are always going to help a stitch wander. A marking wheel/Pricking iron combined with an awl will always beat a chisel or gaping hole similar to a Smith and Wesson and a Bible being more persuasive than a Bible.
Gently pound your stitches with a smooth faced hammer when the seam is done. It will always help mitigate any problems and even out al lot of your work
Most of the Tandy ponies are very good for small projects but are, for the most part, too small for the larger stuff like hunting bags. Pray then Brokkennock finds better clams in his search. There's a reason more substantial clams were prevalent back in the day. I'm still gonna buy one with my stimulus check, tho, because they are useful and convenient for a lot of small projects....You know...sort of like harness where straps precluded the need for forms, even though harness makers used forms when trying to be a shoemaker wannabee in making bags and such . Sorry James, coffee's on me if we ever meet at Dixons.
Is it worth writing a post with a lot of pics that will show how to work with clamps?
Can I get some of the whiz kids who have posted such great work to contribute to the posts?
Maybe we could build a Pullitzer Prize winner right here in the forum