...cease once you've "made it"? I've come to realize that what many call a love of music/drums, is nothing more than a need for validation, and the instrument becomes a means to that end. Once the compliments become redundant, or have successfully gassed your head to planet-sized proportions - the fire to improve ceases. Let's not forget the ultimate compliment to your skills....
...being paid well for your skills. Am I against gettin' broke off? My favorite car costs more than 200 thousand dollars - that should answer your question. However, is being paid the end all and be all of your passion for improvement? If so, then do you realize that music is but merely a trade for you?
When I first came up with the idea for this thread, I was going to take a survey. Now, I realize I probably won't get truly honest answers. In any case, I would suggest that you think on what I said. If you realize that music is nothing more than a trade for you, do you think it's worth it to put in all that work, for a success that's not even guaranteed, for an artform you're not really passionate about?
I'm sure many may say I'm over-stepping my boundaries here - but their are many trades that you can learn, in two years, that will pay you very well. From my experience, only psychotically dedicated musicians are ready for real work, after only two years of skill-honing. Leave the music to the ones who eat, sleep and breathe it because they love it. I think the lack of creativity and evolution exists because we're turning out more tradesmen, than passionate artists. A true artist would never be content with their current level of skill/ability...
...someone whose in it mostly/purely for the fame and fortunate, and have recieved those things already, would. They'll only seek to improve once the phone stops ringing. Either that, or give up...
Okay; I'm done.