Is a puzzlement

Something has been sticking in my craw for a couple months now and I am curious to get the opinions and experiences of others to help determine if I am being:

a. intolerant
b. righteously indignant
c. just a whiny little bitch
d. barking mad

One of the few blogs I used to read daily was removed from my blog roll recently. The reason? The blog owner had a couple meltdowns (one major) over finances and - in my opinion - held the blog for ransom unless the readers of that blog started funding the blog.

Now - again, in my humble opinion, if you choose to write and host and manage a blog to the exclusion of having any other means of employment or money-making, doesn't it seem rude to ask the folks who read your blog to give you money to keep your blog afloat? And if you have a large enough blog community who could contribute writing and other services in your stead, doesn't it make sense to leverage that instead ?

I have to confess, I felt really bad for walking away. I enjoyed the community and had begun to participate regularly. But when we were suddenly treated to regular prods and entreaties (contribute or we''ll shut down!) to contribute to keep things afloat, I had to stop participating.

I read a number of blogs where the main blogger/owner also works at a job and has a community of folks who post information and help manage the site. Pam's House Blend is a stellar example. Pam's site offers a variety of contributing voices and focuses on important issues - all without material support from readers. Or if there is material support from readers, it's being provided quietly and not marketed out to the rest of the community.

So - I'm curious. Are any of the blogs you read important enough to pay for?

Have you ever walked away from a blog you enjoyed for a similar reason?

If you choose to create a topical and non-commercial blog and it becomes a successful blog with a huge audience - would you feel comfortable asking for money to keep it going?

I welcome all thoughts and opinions.