I see the question as a priorities/perspective thing.
One way to analyze a question is to drive the parameters to the extreme. Pretty much everybody who thinks of writing thinks in terms of acclaim and finances but not everybody weighs them the same.
In these stressful financial times it would be surprising if the majority *didn't* pick finances over acclaim as a first order reward. Of course, even a billion hollow sales are bound to generate some visibility--just as a billion satisfied readers is bound to generate riches eventually--but those are undetermined derivatives, not certainties. Too real world.
The fantasy lies is the instant gratification.
