I started being a patron because I had friends and friends of friends that were crowdfunding. My defining moment was when I made my first tip. At that point, I was truly (literally!) invested, and it felt GOOD; I was giving what I felt was a fair amount of money to someone doing something I valued in direct support, and that was eye opening. Taking away the "middle man" (any and all of them) opens up a very distinct direct experience; it really makes you FEEL like a patron, and allows you to take pride in that role.