I think the quilting should be sympathetic to the top. On my own quilts, I often plan the quilting in the beginning, at the design stage. Obviously a pro LAer can't do that. Some LAers are skilled at reading a top and quilting it sympathetically, others not as much. I prefer custom ALWAYS to panto/computer, I like to see the 'human' hand at work. But there are LAers who use panto or computerised designs sympathetically across the quilt. The real horror for me comes from seeing edge to edge panto/computerised slapped right over a beautifully pieced top paying no regard to the pattern of the piecing. This to me is a crime against quilting and I can spot one across a show at 200 yards. Though I suppose for a quick finish on a utility quilt... but even them, I'd rather see a freehand allover meander but that's my own taste...
As for feathers specifically, I never met one I didn't like. There are so many different types of feather - hooky, curly, bubble spine, echoed, pointy, blousy, roundy, open peacock style etc etc... I've used them on traditional designs and on contemporary designs. At the recommendation of Ferret (multi award-winning freehand English LAer - and who would argue with her? certainly not me!) I used a half feather in my Spectrum Triangle quilt, and that is definitely not a traditional quilt! The effect is to balance the point of the coloured triangle and the lobes of the feathers achieve that.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-140081-1.htm
They're popular because they work with so many piecing patterns. BUT I do agree that many seem to progress from meander to feathers then get stuck there. That's why ppl like Leah Day are such an inspiration. And her designs are so adaptable if like the poster above you look at them with your own creative eye and apply them to your own work. :-D