How do YOU do your dishes?

So, water wastage is my big pet peeve. Recently, I ran into this article about not prewashing dishes before dishwashing. I usually build up dishes in the sink. They kind of get soaked in the water I use to wash hands, vegetables, etc. And then I scrub off with a little cold water (no soap and sometimes running water on low) before loading. I just can't seem to get myself to just stick plates with food on them in the dishwasher. I don't know some of the interviews claim they get peanut butter off. But ours doesn't get sunflower seed butter off. And somewhere else, I read their challenge is dried up rice. Well, we have some component of rice in all our meals. The other thing we can't get off are the milk-tea stains on the steel dish we use.

Plus am wondering if they use predominantly ceramics, glass, & plastics? Most of our dishes are steel & glass. I don't know. Our dishwasher is newly purchased in 2011 by the management. Can't find the user manual. But I am working on it. I wish they were more specific about what they mean as "modern" dishwashers.

ETA: I am not questioning the use of dishwasher. I am questioning the use of the pre-washing/rinsing method. I find it so amusing at how difficult this one change has been for me. I just can't get myself to just put plates/dishes in without rinsing! :P