I am still relatively new (1 1/2 years) new to quilting after retiring from teaching. I have done all of the choices. Like them all. I love sitting and hand quilting (still working on stitch size but following the advice of this great quilt board and at least keeping them all the same size even if they are a tad big). I have used my antique 301s and the featherweight as well as the newest Singer 160 to machine quilt (stitch in the ditch on the 3 of those). And I have sent 3 to the long arm with wonderful success and then I hand bind them. So, I kinda look at the quilt when it has been pieced to see which way to go with the quilting. I won't buy a long arm, will go to those great long armer folks and let them use there really great machines and skills when the quilt looks like the detailed machining is required. Those talented folks deserve the amount they charge for their skills and the cost they had to pay for those beautiful machines. So, let the quilt design "tell" you which way to go. I am currently working on Christmas runners and some will be hand quilted and some will be stitched in the ditch on my featherweight. Someday, I will attempt the other type of machine quilting. The cost of the long arm sewing machine is just not in my "retired" future.