I have a friend who serges the quilts she makes for her grandchildren since she knows they will be well loved and well washed. She does this because she does not want to densely quilt it because it flattens the quilt too much. Her "utility" quilts have won awards at quilt shows in the area. If you did not watch her make them you would not know they were serged.
I did zig-zag the seams of a quilt for DMIIL since I knew the nursing home does not care how they treat it in the wash. It turned out well.