crowdfunding | More Thoughts on 1000 True Fans (Reply)

e_cunningham has a post discussing the "1000 True Fans" concept. She is right in asserting that writers get a tiny percentage of profits from most publishing methods. But when I look at my spending habits, I realize that the people for whom I am closest to being a True Fan are doing cyberfunded creativity or other self-promotion, which means that everything I send them goes straight into their pockets, except for a handful of change to PayPal and the Post Office.

I'm curious how other people behave in this regard. For the top five or so people whose art/writing/etc. you adore the most ... are you buying it through traditional models so they only get a tiny percentage of your money, or are you buying directly from them so they pocket most or all of what you spend on their work? And why do you do it that way?