That's just it, I don't think people understand that computerized quilting is not "push the button and it goes". It takes a while to set it up. Even if you were doing an edge to edge, each row can present a challenge to get the design to line up right. I have gotten better over time but there is still so much that I can learn and get better at.
If you use your computer to do custom quilting it can take longer than doing it free motion. You have to choose a pattern for each part of the quilt that you are quilting which would make it unique. It is no different then picking out stencils to use on your quilt and combining different ones.
Even edge to edge designs can be combined and modified for each unique quilt. It all depends on the "skill" of the longarmer.
I could have a perfect pattern to stitch out but yet it doesn't always end up stitching perfect! So to make it look perfect as you see in the shows, there is a lot of frogging and restitching that goes on. There could also be a lot of testing of the designs on other fabric before it is quilted on the quilt.
I felt like some of you before I got my longarm. I debated on whether I need the computerized quilting but I am so so glad I did. It allowed me to be successful while I honed my free motion skills on the machine. Plus if I am doing an edge to edge, I can sew blocks together while waiting on the row to finish. I can get more done! Unless I have to frog!
I think there should be different categories and I think the technique should be listed at shows. But don't think that using a computer is always easiest. In some cases yes, in others no. It all depends. I can free motion quilt a lot faster for some designs then others. All comes down to skill!
I normally use a combination of computer guided and free motion on my quilts. I challenge anyone to label them as not unique!
By the way, I do make my own soap! ha ha!