Lon,
Thanks for this post. The supposedly well-meaning opinions of others can often be damaging and good for you that you have the strength of your passion to not fall prey to your "friend's" opinion.
As an aside, in the first year of Stroke, a girlfriend's husband offered me a position running his telemarketing room for a long distance business they were starting. I turned it down because I felt passion for what I was doing (also because he would have been a real pill to work with). Later, the person who took the job became a partner and when the business was sold, got 3 1/2 million dollars. Yes, I would be a multi-millionaire now.
And, the thought of all that money is sure nice, but instead I have much appreciation from artists and passion for what I do.