I don't think they can be compared. It's true they both turn out quilts, but the method is so different. Now days quilting is a craft or an art form accomplished however one loves to do it. I certainly understand why hand quilting is held in such high regard because it is the old labor intensive way. Just like couture sewing is more time consuming than making a garment with a sewing machine. However both can be stunning. I'm new to quilting and I'm learning to piece and quilt by machine. But I'm also trying to learn to hand quilt. I don't want to have to choose one over the other.