There are very few quilters that make money at quilting and most that do it isn't from selling their quilts but their designs or skills as a teacher or their innovative rulers or quilting paraphernalia. You (meaning anyone) have no control over how people view quilts and it is a long established fact that most people can't or won't pay enough to cover the cost of making a quilt. The definition of insanity is repeating the same action expecting different results, so instead of "punching the wind" or lamenting about how things "should be" it might be better to do a different action. Find something less expensive to make that people will pay for, and do it well, and do it in a way that "big box" can't easily imitate. For instance bags or purses, this is something people are "seen with" so they place more value in. But made w/ very unexpected / fancy / cool fabric or prints that people cannot go to Wally World and buy for $5.