When I started quilting I wanted to do it all. I had learned to piece with my grandma and she hand quilted my first quilts for me. So, I am starting to get the hang of FMQ on my dsm. I have sent quilts out in the past for quilting when I didn't even consider FMQ and I have taken quilts to a long armer to be basted for me. Cannot afford to have all my quilts quilted, plus, I enjoy finishing them myself.
Then I found Marti Michel's book, "Machine Quilting in Sections." You have to plan ahead and divide your top into manageable pieces, quilt them, and then put them together. She gives great instructions and it greatly reduces time for backing prep and pinning/basting. I've one queen quilt and plan to do 2 more with this method.