Thanks for the thougful posts, Rogue. I find myself on YouTube for at least a little while a day due to my situation and strange aversion to watching actual shows or movies most of the time, and Star Wars stuff comes up a lot. It sometimes sucks me into a more cynical mindset than I’d like, I’ll admit.

I would also like to admit to a certain form of (reverse?) jealousy regarding YouTubers who sell licensed merchandise with trademarked images on them. For one thing, if I were for some reason paid minimum wage for each and every hour I’ve spent working on Star Wars stuff on my computer(s), I could pay off my student loans. I won’t even mention what that would look like in the case of someone like Adywan. Why is it okay for people to sell trash with Star Wars imagery on it? I’ve likened our careful efforts to avoid anything approaching profiting from our work to Star Trek’s prime directive, which exists in part to protect us. It kind of makes me mad to see others wantonly endangering us vicariously by promoting what often seems to me like lazy, loud mouthed channels.

For my part, I very much appreciate our solidarity in refrainin from anything that would even suggest any personal gain from what we do; we build safety rails around the safety rails. I don’t ever want that to change. When other people step out from under that carefully maintained umbrella, we all are put at risk while they make $5.

I admire the Phantom Editor and, at least to my own mind, have tried to approach fan editing Star Wars from a place of love and (spirit of) professionalism.

I suppose the brazen disregard for these principles coupled with the unsavory personal gain I see being derived from it rubs me the wrong way. It’s worse when done with pomp and arrogance, maybe.

All this being said, I love all y’all.