Be proud of what you do.... Anyone who makes remarks like that are idiots in my opinion. There is no hard and fast rule as far as I and probably most quilters are concerned. It's your quilt and you can quilt it any way you want. I like to look at a quilt I've made and know that I did it all from start to finish whether I stitched in the ditch or free motion on the machine or hand quilted it. I never send mine out cause when I say I made it...... I know that I did every stitch. My quilting neighbor sends her out to a long arm quilter and that's fine for her and I respect that. It's your quilt... so do it your way and KEEP ON QUILTIN'.