All I meant by my final comments was that some of the best music I have 
in my collection was made by people for whom it was not their primary 
source of income - possibly not even a source of income at all in some 
cases!  On the other hand I also own many great albums by people who 
have CHOSEN to make music their career.  Again that is their choice.  
But if they can't make an honest living with their music alone, am I 
really meant to feel sorry for them?  There are many other ways to make 
money.  I'd love to make a living out of making or selling music, but I 
have neither the raw talent nor the business acumen, so I chose to do 
something different instead.

I've supported independent music plenty in the past, perhaps more so 
than many contributors to this list.  I have bought CDs galore from 
Bruce Brodeen, including almost all his NotLame label stuff (when 
NotLame was a label as well as a store).  I've been to loads of IPO 
shows (including one Canadian night in Chicago, where I reckon I was 
about the sole paying customer there) and bought CDs at merch tables.  
However the simple fact is that I choose now to avail myself of cheaper 
ways of getting my music, where possible, now that these cheaper avenues 
exist for me.  eMusic is the cheapest legal way of getting music I like, 
possibly music I wouldn't have purchased otherwise.  What's your beef 
about that, Jaimie?