I guess I am the oddball in the group.... For all my finished pieces I sand both sides with a Mouse sander, various grits depending on the project. I've never had a problem with pieces breaking....
for shaping and fine tuning pieces for clock assembly I have an 6 inch belt sander with a 9 inch disk on the side. I also have a 1 inch belt sander with a 4 inch disk and a spindle sander for shaping
I am probably a it unconventional in the way I do things but I am self taught and I guess it works for me....