I did nothing but hand work for years.. I have actually had other "experienced quilters" stand in a shop and argue with me that I had machine pieced a quilt. Then I was told that I did not know how to quilt...despite the piece laying there with my needle still attached, because I do a stab stitch or needlepoint quilting as some have called it. Recently I learned to use a longarm and have started machine piecing and quilting. I think both have merits.. depending on the pattern I can sometimes hand piece faster than I machine piece.. some blocks that I love to hand piece I wouldn't even attempt on the machine. Other quilts go way faster on machine. as far as how long they last, I strongly disagree with that lady. Just look in the museums.
Hand stitching can last just as well as machine.depends on the materials and the workmanship.