Another oldie here who started in the 80's!! I have only ever hand quilted and have done hand quilting on many others' quilts as well as my own. Anything I can do sitting in a comfy chair is OK by me! And I like the fact that with hand quilting, I decide where every stitch will go to complement the pattern. I know machine quilting can be very beautiful and is more utilitarian, but when I see a lovely pieced quilt with a random FMQ just going all over, I feel it detracts from, rather than enhances, the piecing pattern.