I can see both sides of the debate on this. I find some of the more extreme lo-fi groups aesthetically pleasing, others not so much. "Un-listenable" is definitely a relative concept now days. I think the songs and ideas in the music are more important than getting paid. However, sometimes you need to get paid in order to keep doing it. Really though I think the era of "going somewhere" with your music (for bands playing rock 'n roll, punk, etc) is coming to an end. The only place you're going to go is to little pools of people in the huge ocean of the internet (unless perhaps you're really good. Even then don't count on it) If you're writing a song to try to get in a tv commercial you're just as bad as Justin Beiber or someone like that. On the other hand if you record a certain way to fit in to what you think people in a certain clique like or expect you aren't really any better. So in the end just do what you like and please yourself first and foremost.
