Good post, good points.

I ran a website for 12 years. Towards the end I had finally managed to build up enough traffic to sell ads and I got about $200 a month. Which was nice, but... as I said "towards the end". For most of that blog's life, I got paid exactly $0. Exposure maybe, and writing practice certainly, but money? None.

I think most people are in the same boat. Very few bloggers ever see a dime. Which makes it kind of crazy that they then come here, start actually making some money, but then whine that it's not enough. Not enough... compared with the zero you were making before?

Yeah yeah, I know. I studied psychology in school. I realize and understand why they do this. But even so, that doesn't make it any less silly.

Anyway, you laid it out very well. Thanks for a great post.