When did mediocrity become marketable?

I have been seeing more and more sub-par models being listed not only for sale but as sold with high ranking show ribbons and NAN cards in recent months. Now I'm not going to name names, I have nothing against these artists and that would not be fair if I did, but I'm very confused as to why their work consistently sells while I struggle to move my mine.
One of these particular artists work I just saw cleaned up on NAN cards at a recent show, which just boggles my mind seeing as their work is obviously grainy(can be seen not only in person, but in their sales photos as well) and I have a couple of pieces that I bought as bodies(though they were being touted as LSQ) by this person and the prepping was sub-standard with primer being clearly visible through inadequate layers of grainy pastel, unfilled pin holes and uncleaned seams. To me this person seems to have potential, but everything I've seen from them so far looks rushed, half finished and they are clearly not using references for 99% of what they are doing.
Two other artists work that bug me, suck, not in the derogatory way, but literally suck in all the light and reflect nothing, making their pieces look very one dimensional. Apparently nobody has ever explained highlights and low lights, any sort of shading as a matter of fact, to them and they must not see how far from lifelike their work is. But I guess they don't care since they have no trouble selling their work.
I know, I'm sounding very catty, but when I see stuff like this selling when my stuff, that I've stressed over and tried to make the best it can possibly be, sits and collects ciber dust waiting for me to break down and let it go for body price or less. What am I doing wrong, and when did the tide of realism turn to except what formerly would have barley passed for PSQ as LSQ?

Sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I've been battling a kidney stone for the last month which has really put a crimp in my studio time. Well last Tuesday I finally passed the stupid thing and foolishly though I was on the road to recovery, also know as being able to get back to the studio. Wrong, I got one whole day of feeling halfway decent when I got hit with a stomach bug, which I probably picked up when I was in the hospital for the stone. Ug! Today is the first day in almost two weeks that I've been able to eat a real(not soup and toast) meal, yea! I've been trying to do some work but it has been very slow going and most likely will continue to be for at least for a few more days as I get tired sooo easily and the antibiotic that I'm on isn't helping.