I think they are alike. They both allow me to be creative and frequently I'm totally surprised by the results.
I must be a lousy piecer because I'm really learning how to compensate for strange piecing when I quilt! I have come up with several ways to compensate for a wavy border and blocks that aren't exactly the same size (it helps that I won a couple of block lottos at my LQS and there was up to a 2" difference between some of the blocks!).
Neither is brain surgery, so no one will die if I make a mistake...more likely to be hungry if I mess up in the kitchen and those truly funky blocks that just won't work in my quilts will end up all together in a colorful quilt for someone!