OP, further define what you believe is "ride quality".... as this means different things to different people.
If you are talking about it being comfortable, then you wont notice shock difference if changing from stock.
If you are talking about it being more stable around bumpy corners and braking ability, then shocks will need to be changed.
To me, 'ride quality' is both.
I've got lowered pedders springs in my VE (not super lows), but standard shocks. But anyone that tells you shocks dont make a difference is either lying or doesnt understand what they do.
When I push my VE around a corner (like for instance a sharp on ramp fora hwy), any small bumps in the road unsettle the VE ever so slightly. This has not nothing to do with springs, its because the shocks arent holding her on the ground as good as they should, due to the more abrupt and frequent travel of a shorter spring (a shorter travel shock will do better holding this difference in movement). Now for normal driving that's fine, but I'm not kidding myself thinking that stock shocks are 100% up to task. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing 'wrong' with them (hell, I'm still using them!)... but when you say "ride quality" there's definitely going to be a difference from stock shocks with lowered springs, and a matched shock/spring combo.
My advice?
Stock shocks are fine, but you need to realise that they will never be as good as shocks perfectly matched to the springs to you are installing (ie as a package from one supplier). Ride comfort wont change, but ride performance will. If you understand those limitations and realise in most situations the stock shocks will be perfectly adequate, then that's fine. But as already suggested, since you have to rip out everything to change the springs anyway, you may as well get them to change shocks too (if it's only a small difference in price).
