What's the Deal with Commissions?

 Something I've seen around Deviantart for awhile now, and I was curious as to what other people thought about it.

It seems so often I see many artists complaining that they cannot get anyone to commission artwork from them. They go to great lengths to try and sell their skills, and some even adjust their prices to next to nothing or DA points.
When people don't bite, they ask me, or on the forums, "What am I doing wrong? I only want 100 points and no one buys them"

There are many artists such as myself who sell art/prints etc etc because we rely on it as a part of our income,  but many of these people still live at home, or are in school. So, 100 DA points ( for example), which is $1.25 , is not really going to help anyone with bills or rent, or much of anything else.

And yet, there they are over and over, very upset and depressed that no one buys commissions from them.


When artists ask me how they can better market their work so people will buy it,  I look at their work first. I'm just one guy so my opinion is just that- I'm by no means an expert on anything. But most of the time, I see students who are still in an exploratory phase of art ( which is awesome and fun), but who haven't really settled into a style, or final pieces. And by that I mean, pieces that have all the elements to make it look finished, whether that be a very strong sketch, or a painting with a background.
They usually don't really need the few points or cents that would come out of selling (They live at home, their needs are met etc).
 
So in those cases, I usually suggest to them that they don't worry about the commission aspect of art yet. That they should just enjoy art for now. especially if no one buying is taking them down. Just practice, and improve their skills. See where all that passion and energy takes them. Often, if you're just doing what you want to do without worrying about external things, you start producing artwork that people really like and then they come to you for it. People will naturally start asking you if you take commissions.

Well, usually they start asking if you take requests or trades ( freebies ), but the interest is there, and it's a marker that you might be ready to start offering commissions.


So I guess I'm asking, why is it so important to everyone? Is it important to you? That someone buys a commission from you even if it's just for a few dollars or a handful of points?
Is the desire to sell your artwork a source of pride? Does that make you feel a bit better about your art or a bit more accomplished?

I'd love to hear opinions on this.

Edit Disclaimer ( I cant believe I need this): I am not saying people should NOT sell their art for what they want. I am not saying a few cents is worthless. I'm making no judgements. I just asked some questions to gather opinions to see things from multiple perspectives. If people aren't allowed to politely ask other people's thoughts, how will anyone learn anything?