GAMER LOUNGE 20XX (NO CASUALS!!)

[Kitsu]

I'd say that'd be their own fault then, for selling out, just to get more traffic.  Drawing endless amounts of fanart won't make people suddenly be attracted to their original works either, because what they're there for is more fan art.  They end up digging their own grave in that regard.

In some cases, a thing like "came for the fan art, stayed for the artstyle" kinda thing can happen here, especially when the artist has a distinctive artstyle.
Also, the motivation from fleeting popularity from fanart could propel people to continue improving (by constantly making new pieces), as well as having less design work involved.