>you end up doing something different, and people only want repeats of your popular previous work, or imitations of others, anyway.

Well, perhaps the people know something that the creator doesn't.

If you go to a Sushi place you don't expect or want them to suddenly give you a Carribean menu.

I think it's similar with artists. They tend to think that people came to them for "them" intristically, and that they should relish whatever new thing they decide to throw their way, but that's not how it works.

People came to an artist X because he/she gave them that particular flavor that they liked. Not because they just like the person or the way he thinks in general and would follow him to every and any artistic path.