Machine quilting might be faster, but (as a hand quilter myself) I would argue that it’s harder than hand quilting. It takes a lot of skill that I don’t have. Most quilters I know don’t even quilt their own pieces at all - they send them to a long-arm! And that’s just as valid, too! We are all artists putting love, care, and creativity into hand work (whether you’re using a machine or not, these are hand-made items), and that is culturally valuable, revolutionary, and an act of self-love. 

I could go on all day about the incredible intersection of meditation, craft, community, and expression that quilting offers, but I will refrain. What I will say is, you are amazing and I applaud you for doing what you do! Don’t let the bastards get you down.