If I want to control the card, 90 percent of the time I will Diagonal Palm Shift it out while the spectator shuffles using an injogging technique of Doc Docherty, and replace afterward. It's probably the most effective way to control I know of. If I want to control the card to the top with minimal effort in the eyes of the spectator, I will usually perform a Deliberate Side Steal (Marlo/with finesse by Cummings), followed by Michael Feldman's Riffle Shuffle Action palm and then hand the deck out for mixing.
I guess it just depends on the situation. But I like controls that don't look like anything is happening at all. For instance, the Svengali control is NOT a good example of this. The double undercut is another incredible example of "how not to lose a card". At least, I'm a bit of a move snob. So take that with a grain of salt.