STUNNING!! I agree with you wholeheartedly. The quilt shows to me are disapointing because there is very little hand quilting represented. I hope it is not going to completely die out. I know quilts can't be finished as fast by hand. I have a stack myself that need to be finished. As to the statement they they won't hold up under rough use, I have several quilts from the 1930's that are in very good condition. From what I've seen the stitching holds up better than some of the fabrics. I do like some of the machine quilting but just prefer the soft look of hand quilting.