I think you may have just agreed with several things, sprinkled here and there in this thread, that I have said (sorry for accidental rhyme). I'll attempt to recap/summarize: "Real" artists won't compromise thier work. "Other" artists write for their audience and (perhaps) not for themselves. (Or else "split the difference" so they can continue to do their art.) Additional pleasure by a "real" artist can be attained by acceptance and appreciation of their uncompromised work. I guess I'm not driven like some "mad hatter". I don't spend much time in my artistic endeavors. Sometimes, I have something that needs to be said and I try to spend some time making it. When I finish, I put it somewhere where someone else can see it. Whether it's my wife, co-workers, or, well, here at R'City. If they like it, it makes me feel good. If they don't, it just means "it" didn't "hit" them the way it did me. But, I certainly won't rip it up and discard it.