A plain log cabin will probably not win a big show, or an appliqued Sunbonnet Sue probably won't either. I can see those type quilts everyday and although beautiful they don't stir my imagination.
The show quilts to me are to inspire me to see what is possible. New color combinations, new techniques, new designs to take one step further. I look at the show quilts and think a quilter did this! She stepped out of the box, took a design one step more, added detail that was never thought of and made a showpiece.