With my MS I have a hard time feeling the difference between most fabric. When I started quilting, I knew of only one place to purchase fabric and it was not an LQS, but a big chain. I buy what I like where ever that may be. And I do not like it when I hear LQS owners put down retail chains. If you read the end of bolts it all comes from different parts of the world and you are mistaken to believe that better quality always will be at LQS.
Part of the reason that the big chains don't have higher prices are the volume discount. For example, instead of buying one bolt they are buying thousands and using a distribution center.