Because the feature has a relaxed, leisurely approach and contains many quotes and several interesting incidents, beginners think all that is necessary to write one is to pile on quotes and anecdotes and then glue them together with a few transitions.

Not so. The writer must have a specific theme in mind and use only those quotes, anecdotes and incidents that amplify the theme. Detail and dialogue and essential, but the good feature writer "piles it all up very carefully building up toward a single point..."

The single point is the theme or point of the article. In this respect, a feature is no different.