I know quilts are made to be touched, but by the people who own them. As a matter of respect you should not be handling someone elses quilt when it is on display. You see with your eyes, not with your hands.
You wouldn't think of caressing works of art in a museum, no matter how tactile or sensual they look. I know every time I see beautiful wood working art, I want to run my hands over it, but I refrain.
When we used to do craft fairs, we always had this problem. It's like a fur coat, people want to touch and go ooh and aah.