You need a new friend who is not a quilt police snob! Sorry, but I really think there are so many more ways to sew a quilt and we need to support each other and not tear each other down.
I have a friend who has done beautiful needle turn. I am the beneficiary of a quilt she did. However, I do not want to and will not sit there and take that amount of time to do it. I do machine applique and am very happy doing so. It is one of the reasons I bought my machine. I have drawn up the basic design for a Landscape quilt that will be raw edge applique and it will take as much time planning and effort as any needleturn.
Your method is different than hers, and it is not any better nor worse than hers. Perhaps the class should just be called Applique Methodology, since more than one type will be taught.
Just my double needles worth...
Good luck,
Susan