I have been struggling with the same issue. I can make a simple quilt and am trying to get better with each thing I make but when I go to the quilt shops for fabric etc. I see these perfectly made quilts quilted with a long arm and I was getting so depressed knowing that I cannot afford the machine and I cannot see my hand quilting skills getting to that level. I recently came to the conclusion, as you did, that quilting makes me happy. It doesn't matter if it makes anyone else happy. Although so far it has made members of my family happy. :)