RE: To pinch or to Thumb....
I learned thumbs, and then switched to pinching. I also started using a neck strap when pinching, and that helped a lot.
I do find that I often go to tumb on the left stick and two fingers on the right though.
When I teach, I let the student do whatever is comfortable, I frequently don't even comment on how they hold the TX, it's most important to be comfortable than anything else.