Yes definitely and those people got paid. Lots of the great works of art were commissioned be the wealthy. Other great works of art were created by people starving and living in shit. By allowing artists to sell their work at a low price they get to live comfortably, we get lots of great stuff, and nearly everyone can afford it. They don't have to make a choice between not creating great work and creating great work but living a horrid life. The current system (which has been getting cheaper and cheaper for consumers) is the fairest for everyone imo.
I guess where I disagree is that society should be deciding what is an ideal system for a given profession and attempting to lock-in a standard of living for that profession by maintaining the status quo to the detriment of progress and other industries. I disagree that there should be "blessed" professions that are given this honor.
