And where is the rule that says you cant please both at the same time? 
I think it is called the Profit Margin.
The way I see it, and this doesn't apply to just games, is that most "creators" don't have to make it for both. The people that have specialized tastes, because of the large marketbase (the world), we in the end , DO NOT MATTER.
If a company that wants an insane return on the product, by investing that extra energy and time to satisfy the fans isn't worth it. The numbers of the fans are small when compared to everyone else and those numbers can more than likely be replaced because of the mass size of everyone else. This is a side effect of the globalization of our marketplaces and moving into an information society. Because so many products are not a physical item, the rate of return and profit margin can near 100% after so many copies of the product is sold which allows a "creator" to gain a quick and dirty return on their investment. Then add to the fact that there generally is no returns on software (I'm American, so that is what I use for perspective and basis for laws) so selling something sub-par is not encouraged, but is the easy route and the usual route taken.
Unfortunately, not everyone can use the most sophisticated games/software out there. The masses tend to have this applied to them. Look at console games, until the Wii, some groups of the masses couldn't handle controllers that to most of us are simple as dirt to use. This is why Apple does so well with their iDevices. The mass users can make use of these things and yet not have to learn a damn thing (but that is another discussion). Even so far as I've had "tech debates" with Apple fans that do not have a clue about the technology they are using. But I digress.
I will take this to something more at home. The last Star Trek movie. It was good but it wasn't good enough. It could have been so much better, from the fan perspective. This isn't the alternate universe wasn't a problem. Most things were actually ok, but they gave but poor lip service to the fans with the movie. Here, it wouldn't be worth it to go that extra route. The fans were still going to go to the movie, the non fans were going to go to the movie and since it is an "entertainment product" even if it was a complete pile of utter trash, big deal. They already made their money. There was no need for JJ or the writers to truly take into account any additions that would have pleased the fans.
The same applies to STO. I didn't pay for it and I wanted it to be a great game, but it isn't and I won't pay for it (the monthly fee). They didn't have to care about what many of us here wanted to see because there were others that would and easily could replace us. Why make things like the ships and interiors like they should be? There is no need. The mass gamers wouldn't know the difference and they out number the fans easily.
So I guess at this point in time I'm sorta rambling but don't get me wrong.
I think these "creators" that follow this pattern are just cheap sellouts. I see no reason not to go that extra length to keep everyone (in a realistic sense, there is always someone not happy) even if I don't make "As much" on the product. I want to make money, but I'm not greedy. As long as the profit is made, everyone is paid, investment is returned and the players (all of them) are happy!
