Instead of grousing about how "non-quilters" don't understand why not just tell them?? A simple"it would take me x many weeks/months to make a quilt that size. i have work/family to deal with too. I can only devote x many hours a day/week to sew."
How do you expect them to know if they do not have this hobby?? how many of you know how many hours it takes say a woodworker to make a piece of furniture? Or how long it takes to carve a decoy? Paint a picture??