This is a screen shot from a canned threading cycle on a late 90's CNC lathe, eight parts that I ran this morning, 1 1/2"-12 internal thread 2 1/2" deep in 1018 steel.
You will notice the "Approach Angle" field is 29 1/2 Degrees as if threading from a compound. This is the default setting, I have found that this means little when making 1 or just a few parts per day, however it may help tool life when making 1000's of parts per day.
Many modern lathes have multiple options for approach angles when threading including alternating between the Z+ and Z- sides of the thread each pass.
A useful method of manually threading repetitive parts that I employ is to use the compound for controlling the diameter, advance it and leave it then retract the cross slide to clear when returning to the start. Return the CS to zero then advance the the compound for the next pass, this works very well on machines with an X axis DRO. One quickly grows weary of backing off the compound by the 50th part (-:
When threading on manual machines I use the cross slide only and have never had a problem in the last 30 years doing so. Having never used a hobby type machine I may be entirely wrong however.
Also very few manual lathes have a 3rd axis DRO for the compound, I dislike using hand dials.