I went a very long time with just a darning foot (I like open toe), no walking foot. It is an absolute necessity. I can straightline quilt with my regular foot, I can't FMQ with it.
I now have a walking foot, but probably won't use it much as I mostly do FMQ. The walking foot came with a SITD sole, so my edge stitch foot (SITD foot) won't get anymore use on quilts, it does not move the fabric.