I will never again make a log cabin using cut pieces. As mentioned, way too tedious. I was foolishly convinced by purists that it is much better to use the pieces than to use E. Burns method. NOT. Both quilts looked exactly the same, but I had far more enjoyment making it using the E. Burns method!
As far as flannel, I don't know what to tell you. I have 3 flannel quilts, in use for 15 years, and none have pilled. All are quilt shop fabrics. I've one that uses Joann's quilter's flannel - only one of those has pilled. ALL the Snuggle flannel eventually pills - varies by color. I've never had a desire to make a ragg quilt, but most of the quilters around here seem to use regular cotton, not flannel. Flannel is mostly a backing thing.