You wrote:

   	I just know that this whole discussion has left me feeling like a 
bit of a hypocrite.  After all, I _really_ like getting C&C... but send 
out a dismal amount of my own.

I rarely critique unless asked.  The main reason is that, when I 
critique, I can sometimes be pretty harsh, and I'm afraid I'll step 
on someone's feelings, or worse, they'll shoot back about something 
in one of my stories, in which case there's negative feelings all 
around.  C&C is important; I just often don't have the nerve to give 
it.

(It's also true that most professional critics are not creators.  
Think this is important?)

------RM