I couldn't agree more with your assessment. I, like you, am a self-taught quilter although have sewn for decades. Have been quilting now for about 10-15 years. I still like to do the BOM that my LQS hosts each year. It's a cheap way to end up with a quilt and it's great for learning new skillsets. I think these are great methods for new quilters to learn new skills and for longer-time quilters to hone skills. Glad you're enjoying the process.