i would have had to ask her, do you cover your placemats too? how ... odd? i never heard of such a thing...and i have table runners all over the place, on our end tables, coffee table, 2 islands, the dining room table, our night stands, dressers...they are all there to protect the furniture and they get tossed into the laundry when they need it. i have been to a couple resturants that put table clothes on the tables then cover them with a glass top...but i hate that too...i like using placemats and table clothes and runner, linen napkins...that's just me...
and of course it is yours to treat as you will...some people are funny ;)