Do you usually type a " quote " already with the spaces? Or do you
type it without them and entrust your word processor to do the spacing?
It depends. In a text editor (MS Word, OOo Writer), I type only the "
and it changes to « if the " is following a space or
» if following a non-space. This is the default setting for
the French and Belgian-French locales.
So the space is automatically added. But the result is immediate.
Typing «some text» or <<some text>> with no space is just plain weird
*for me*.
However, most people I know are not bothered with typographical niceties
and what are the prescribed characters and would very gladly type <<some
text>> and see «some text» or type "some text" and see “some text” (or
even "some text" - with no change).
