I respect that, but that doesn't change my point, because members of this notice board are unlikely to be a representative cross section of the movie going/renting public. They are, by joining this, already expressing an interest in independent film making.
The main bulk of the movie going public are more conservative in their tastes, needing the product, in the main, to be by directors they know or staring actors they already like.
Films that break this mould are few and far between.
The point I was trying to make, was that it was this tendancy of audiences to stick with what they know, that accounts for directors sticking to what has worked in the past.
As an independent director myself, I understand that my ability to raise money to make my next film will depend on my being able to demonstrate a market for my new product. I can only do this based on my track record. If I have a sucessful track record making westerns, I'm going to have a hard job bringing the money in, if I decide to do an art house costume drama.
No matter what level you are working at in the industry the same money pressures apply.