I learned to handquilt before I learned to piece. So I knew how to FINISH the quilts, but I didn't know much about making the top. I met a quilter online who didn't like to finish her quilts, but loved to piece. We set up an agreement whereby she made my tops and I handquilted her quilts for her.
For the first couple years that I "quilted" this was how all my quilts were made. Since then I've learned how to piece and now piece me own tops.
I don't think having someone else piece your top for you is "copping out". How is this different than someone piecing a top and sending it out to a LA'er to be quilted?