Yup, it's common. Often, so is a slant by the index finger, i.e., \ | | / .

If you're bored, go through GT lessons and count how many instructors you see whose little fingers are doing the same thing. :eek:

I was really working hard trying to get my little finger to do a vertical, straight on approach to the fret but after I looked close at some GT vids I relaxed (about that :D ) and focused on getting a nice, high arch.