I decided I wanted to learn to quilt when I found out that there's so much more to quilting than "my grandmother's quilts." Frankly, I just never like the old timey stuff. I accidentally found a quilting group on one of the old BBS's called GEnie (kinda like Prodigy) and this was the nicest group of people I had found in a long time. I started learning to make quilt squares just so I could be a part of their group. I joined fabric swaps and block swaps. Pitiful as my efforts were, no one ever complained. They just encouraged me. I found quilt magazines and then quilt shows really opened my eyes to the possibilities. Then GEnie was sold and the group sort of faded away.
I didn't find my way back into quilting until about 8 years ago. Piddled for a few years, but have become more serious about it over the past 5 years or so. I work slowly -- Don't see how you guys can turn out so many quilts so quickly. My only goal is to enjoy the process, learn something new and improve my skills with each new project.
So I guess I came to quilting because quilters are such nice people and stayed to play with the fabric. I don't quilt for profit, prizes or posterity. I do give away some quilts. And some to family members. But I don't expect to be remembered for my quilts (maybe not remembered at all). That part is irrelevant. I like making quilts and I like giving them away.