Nope. Your not done. People do care, though you need to realize it.

People care, sir. The trick is finding them. Believe me, I've been there; people can be assholes.

People DO care. It may seem like they don't, but you just have to get through the bad times to get to the good times.

Certain people are all too willing to take advantage of artists and then scream inanities like "You want payment?! Get a real job (i.e. something mind-numbing that you don't like, but keep doing only because it pays the bills)!" or even "You're such a waste of space. Make me pictures, loser!"
There's many names for these people (troglodytes, philistines, the lowest-common denominator, spoiled brats, to name a few). They've always existed, and they always will.

But you know what? The artists are regularly remembered, and the cheap, abusive patrons' names crumble into dust. What's more: for every such rancid coprophage, there's several honest, appreciative viewers and commissioners.

This may not lessen the pain of being taken advantage of, but hopefully it can at least give a little comfort.