I agree on the amateur side of it. It's a social activity. Once a published writer-friend of mine told me she was envious of my "fanbase". Years later, even though I've withdrawn from a lot of fannish activities, I still have an LJ, a site, and a propensity to self-advertise.

I mused on the line between the two some time ago... maybe that's the element I missed. We're all backstage having a laugh, not sweating over the curtain coming up.