Your quilt is spectacularly beautiful. I appreciate the dilemma you speak of. There are certainly two schools of thought here. But, I think you need to do what you think best finishes the total look you envisioned to start with. I think I would hand quilt it. There would be places that you might have to stab stitch without the hoop and other parts the hoop would be helpful. Long armed quilts are wonderful and we admire the skill of the quilter a lot. But, sometimes, it just doesn't fit the quilt. Another example is the Baltimore Album quilts. Please keep us posted about the decision you make for your wonderful quilt.