I did not loose inches when it was torn, I lost inches when the sales person cutting the material just used a pair of scissors and very rapidly cut the material not caring if it was cut straight or not.
Example:
Lets say I asked for 1 yard of material, she nipped it with her scissors at 36 inches exacly. Then started cutting without a guide of any sort, and the other other side of the material ended up being cut at 34 inches. That would be a lose of 2 inches on one side of the material.
If you needed the exact 36 inches all the way across, then you have been shorted.
No stretching would make up for this. Sewing on the fray of the material is not an option for me since I want it to be a solid and secure seam. And Yes, I really do think the quality of fabric makes a difference. But a bad cut, is a bad cut whether it is poor quality fabric or top of the line fabric.