I'm not horrified either. Neither do I think tying is all that bad. I've given away myriads of quilts that were/are tied. Since there was a stain or two, the owner probably did use it. The pattern isn't particularly compelling to me and if I were the mom who was given the quilt and then no longer wanted it, I'd probably also just donate it.
I've seen my kids' old baby quilts on another clothes line--as I donated it to poor people around me. It made me feel good.
Good find. Glad you are happy about it. I'd probably just leave it as is and try to get the stains out and then donate it again since I have no use for baby quilts anymore. My youngest is 15.