To me that is like asking if we shouldn't still be skinning and curing animal hides for clothing or spinning our own thread from spinning wheels. Our ancestors were THRILLED when they were able to get sewing machines, because it made their lives so much easier. If the object is to make a quilt, then in my (never to be humble) opinion, it doesn't matter how you get the finished product. If you enjoy the hand work, both piecing and quilting, good for you!! If you don't enjoy hand-work, but still enjoy having a finished product, then good too. I am strictly a piecer. I HATE quilting, but don't mind piecing. I don't particularly like it, there are other hobbies that I find much more enjoyable than sewing (such as genealogy), but I sure do like the finished product! So I piece the tops, then quilt by check to a LAQ'r.