To an extent, people like to whinge about stuff they like. To a greater extent, people are likely to complain about the good old days books, back when things were, y'know, good.

People are very unlikely to say nice things unbidden, but much more likely to complain. If we got a nice thanks letter at work, it was heralded everywhere, but a complaint would simply be investigated.

She believes in what she's doing. Yes. But it seems a significant chunk of her readerbase don't, but are still buying in hope that she'll get better. From that, she won't. Maybe it's not quite an Anne Rice moment, but it's close, she didn't really even engage with criticism. Ah well, she'd already lost my money, now she's lost my respect as well.

As for the pub regulars? Are they really complaining? I like a pub where the staff don't do faux polite, and it's as clean as it needs to be, but not so sparkling it looks like it's not got any customers. And beer is always awful...

(also? Just finished reading the latest grrm paperback, and y'know what? It's wrong. So very wrong. No one died! Well, no one significant not already due to. What's going on when none of the significant characters get choped? He's losing it I tell thee...)