There are a variety of reasons I quilt my own quilts:
1. I don't know anyone who quilts, let alone a LAQ'er. Don't belong to a guild of any kind, so no connections.
2. I'm sort of a control freak. I want absolute design control over my work. I do mostly original designs, so the quilting needs to accentuate that.
3. I should think the money I'd spend hiring the work out would allow me to buy lots more fabric and dye supplies.
4. I would be too embarassed at how wonky my tops sometimes come out to hand it to someone else! Seriously...I have to do some creative "squaring" sometimes. I think a LAQ'er would be horrified at the prospect of making my work look square(ish).
5. The feeling of accomplishment when I get my quilting and binding done--it's so rewarding! Knowing I made every stitch in the quilt is priceless to me.
I do all my sewing on an older Singer 9910 and a REALLY old 201-2.