I totally agree with you Bearisgray "I do put some responsibility on the giver to try to learn ahead of time if the giftee is "worthy" of getting a quilt and what the giftee might actually like and use."
Trying to guess what someone will want has always been a mystery to me. Some of my friends change the colors in their homes every year. They have the money and so the fact it matches today, it will be sent to the Trift store in a year. So I do the types of quilts that you can cuddle up in front of the TV or tap a nap for friends and family. One friend said her husband always wants everything to match so I did a Christmas theme quilt and they get it out once a year with their Christmas ornaments. Another friend that was too ill one year to decorate her home for Christmas, so made her one of my patchwork quilts with over 150 different Christmas fabrics, she thought it was like they were all different decorations for her, so she leaves it out year round (that was 11 years ago) and tells people about it.
I used to be upset when I found out the person used it to curl up with their pet or used it on the floor, but I don't anymore. Since I don't like every gift I receive I don't expect them to either. I do my best, give it with the love that is intended and that is it. Once I made one for a wedding gift for a lady I worked with. She had MS, so once she married she never came back to work, we tried 3 times to meet up for lunch so that I could give her the gift. It didn't happen, so I decided she didn't really want it (she never saw it) and I gave it to the church my daughter attended when they were collecting blankets. They were thrilled to get it.
Must admit it was the book, "That Dorky Homemade Quilt Look" that opened my eyes and decide quilts are to be used, not put away for a special occasion that may never come. It is better to ask someone what they plan for a baby's room or what colors they want in their bedroom or living room before spending a lot of time and money. If you want to make someone an heirloom quilt, you really should ask first it they would want it. Neither of my daughters would use such an item and would ask to store it at my house.