For me personally, I could not use a quilt in my home that had been on someone's casket, especially not my mother, grandmother or child. I just couldn't. But, I personally love real flowers anytime any where, so to me it's no waste to buy an arrangement for someone. What I DO NOT LIKE, is when I attend a funeral and people start picking apart the casket spray to take home flowers. I cringe. I like what they did at my dh aunts funeral, there was a large vase of roses sitting there for people to have one.
The idea that is't expensive, not sure I totally agree, I have a lot more money in some of my quilts than I put in my dad's spray. Probably 3 to 4 times as much. Seriously.