I suppose that makes sense. Fanfic being a popularity contest certainly does happen, and I've run into it many times before - just never so directly, and so firmly as me having to lose the fun part of it for competition or something *shrugs*

As for my own popularity *shrugs* I think I'm popular in my "niche", whatever it is, but outside of it I'm not well known. But, people enjoy my writing and I enjoy writing and that's all that matters to me. :)