I have seen many beautiful quilts in my day, some heavily quilted, and some more conservatively quilted, some simply tied. What I don't understand is why we need to pick and choose which quilts to love. They're quilts! Love them all!
Perhaps the major quilt shows could re-evaluate their categories to allow for the wide range of quilting styles now being submitted, but that's really up to those who make the rules for each show.
As far as heavy quilting causing weakening of fibers...frankly, no one will know for another 80-100 years and none of us will be around to find out. I guess it will just have to be a lesson for our descendants. Myself, I choose not to spend my time worrying about whether a quilt will outlive my great-grandchildren. If those who come after I'm gone are concerned about such matters, they'll make the effort to take care of and preserve them. If not, that's okay. I'll be gone, and it's their right to choose what they care about.