For those of you that are just starting machine quilting:
If you find that you really, really just like making the tops, it is ok to have someone else quilt them for you. The quilts get finished, and you get to move on to a new project. Some people get their joy in finding the right fabrics and in putting the tops together. I struggled for a long time trying to wrestle tops in my home machine. I wish someone had told me sooner that it was ok to find a partner in the project!
The other thing about this is, you'll have input to help in making your quilt-making better. Let her/him know you are open to suggestions and critique. When I finally started sending my tops to a long armer, I found that some of my troubles in quilting on my home machine were construction issues on the top. My LAer made me a better top maker.
Try to quilt a quilt on your own, AND hire someone to quilt a different top. You'll then have the information you need to set YOUR priorities!
Disclaimer: I'm a LAer now. But I did give this same advice years before I started LAing!