It depends on what you consider quilting to be. If you're a purist artist and have the skills and time to do the hand quilting, then that's part of your "art". If you love to make quilt tops and have someone else do the quilting, or like me, have arthritis in your hands and cannot do the quilting by hand, you make the quilt tops and have them quilted by your long armer. Then when someone admires a quilt you take credit for your part and give credit to the long armer who does that part. Unless you consider yourself a purist, quilting is a hobby and cannot be judged by anyone but you. How can you "cheat" when you're doing "hobby work" for your own personal enjoyment. That's what a hobby supposed to be....for your own pleasure.