I have always used an long-arm quilter to machine quilt my quilts. I do not have a problem using one because she is so creative and I have no desire to learn long-arm quilting. I have more fun putting the tops together. Even though she does the quilting, I still feel the quilt is mine. I picked the pattern, picked the material, put the blocks together or whatever, and made the top, put the borders on, pieced the back...it's my quilt. I do give her credit on my labels, though. And I still feel the quilt is mine. I don't have to do all the work for it to be my quilt. How is brining your quilt to a professional long arm quilter any different than bring your quilt to be quilted at a quilting bee? Do then feel it's not your quilt anymore, just because some people helped you had quilt it? I bet you wouldn't. I think we can get too bogged down in terms and who did what...and that can take the joy out of quilting altogether.