It's a strange muddle of contradictory thoughts:

"OMG! Your art/music/poetry is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced in my LIFE!!!"

So you value and appreciate creativity?

"Oh yes! It's one of the most important things we have!"

Well, that drawing/CD/Poetry book can be yours for just $15...

"What??? Wow, so you've just totally sold out to commercialism!? I can't believe you don't just create art of creative expression's sake! Take your self-importance somewhere else!"

::: Leaves in a huff and spends $20 at a local bar on a couple of drinks — that will be right down the toilet in a couple of hours —without a second thought :::

Things like that do happen all the time and the fact that many people only "value" things conceptually rather than functionally serves to "anchor" the mythology.