I don't think I've ever followed a pattern exactly. (see my tagline) I buy the quilt books and look at the quilts, and I do read the directions, because sometimes they have a better way to do something than I do. (Other times I wonder why anyone would cut out a zillion two inch squares to make things easily made by strip quilting).
I don't buy patterns for that reason. I know myself too well. I have great respect for the more perfectionist and disciplined quilters here. I am occasionally awed. But I've reached an age where I know myself. I will make it as well as I can, but it's not going to be perfect, and it is going to have lots of love sewn in.