I go to a lot of AQS shows. I have chatted with the winners. From what I understand the Best of show quilts, the judges don't judge strictly on quality workmanship because all the quilts are near perfectly pieced, quilted, bound, appliqued, etc. Quilters who make show quilts year after year know what the judges are looking for. The same judges seem to judge the same show. That is one complaint I hear a lot from quilters entered in the big shows. The judges for most shows are looking for the WOW factor first, new innovative method used, the creativity, use of color, theme, etc. Not many classic quilt designs win the Best of Show awards.