Johnboy3434 said:

You're not the supreme designator of a work's quality, you know.

And you are??? You defend the PT and you claim to know quality?!?!?!?

Some people feel as much connection to EU characters as they do to movie characters.

While making George rich...and frustrating themselves. Whatever.

And as awesome as Tolkien was, you don't think money was at the top of his priority list when he submitted his work to be published?

Tolkien was a professor (at Oxford, I think). Professors in those days didn't live like paupers. I highly doubt that money was his sole motivation. He had a story to tell and he told it.