I didn't realize I instinctively picked up the early return habit until I started doing iOS development, where it seems the convention encouraged by apple is nesting rather than early returning.

I prefer the early return style. I generally try to put all error handling / sanity checking code up top with early returns (ie, the preconditions of the function), so that the "meat" of the code at the bottom of the function can be more concise and easier to grok. However, this requires a reading style of "first read the bottom of the function to get the gist of it, and then read all of the pre conditions above it". Unfortunately I have to explain that to my coworkers, bu when I do, they seem to understand wha I'm going for.