Cutting The Deck

I have a couple of questionas abotu cutting the deck. When I play poker with seven other people, we take turns dealing the cards when we are the dealer. The player on the right of the dealer cuts the deck. Now, I took about four cards from the top to cut the deck. One player tells me it should be at least 11 cards from the top to cut it. They also say I should always cut towards the dealer. So, my questions are, is there a 11 card minimum when cutting the cards and it is required that I should cut towards the dealer? I say no because some people don't cut the deck at all, they simply knock on the top of the deck. There is a saying I hear all the time when cutting the deck to a few cards, "Thin to win." I figure it doesn't matter which way you cut the deck, as long as you do and don't look at the bottom card, among other things. What do you think?

The continuous section may also be taken from the middle of the deck, though in some settings this is considered poor etiquette or against the rules.

Likewise, a cut involving a very small number of cards, such as taking only the top card as a cut, is not often acceptable.

The same is true when a player takes more than one section of cards from the deck.

In formal settings, such as during high-stakes casino or tournament settings, an offer to cut the deck is mandatory and the designated player must perform the cut.

The main reason for not being allowed to cut the top "few" cards is that an astute card handler can effectively put whatever cards he/she wants to the top. I can put any two cards to the top of a deck, but im sure more practiced players can do more. So taking 3 or 4 cards from the top would put me an a slight (minimal) advantage, because i will know which cards are not in play. Why play 88 when you know there is an 8 sitting at the bottom, why draw to a heart flush when 3 hearts are not in play ?

The best way to cut cards is to do it yourself, in full visibility of everyone using a cut card.