I enjoyed this post so much!! I quilted with a hoop for years and finally got a Qsnap and I don't like it one bit! And using it causes me to have back problems!!
I am a hand quilter because I don't know how to use a machine! I'm jealous of everyone who can piece and who can machine quilt while I'm just poking along :) But I do enjoy quilting, even though I got away from it for 10 years- I'm glad to be back!
I'm in TN, too (Knoxville). If you're close, we can help each other!