I can see this from both sides. I go to Beverley FF and Whitby Folk week and only attend the fringe. I think I've only been to a handfull of official things in the 10 years I have been attending Whitby so i suppose I am 'pimping' my ride there in not contributing financially. However as an organiser of Sheffield FF we as organisers try to find ways of making our succesfull fringe pay at bit to help host the festival. There are ways of doing this taking a collection or bucket, paying for camping only passes, raffles, encouraging people to buy at least a programme, getting pub venues to place an advert in the printed programme etc. All of these help with the overall costs of hosting a festival. I always encourage the fringe as it is an important part but the reality is that Festivals cost money to put on and that in the main the fringe contributes to the overall atmosphere but doesn't contribute much in fiscal terms. It is a balancing act and if you ask most Festival organisers they will say what 'golden egg' ?