Do people cook at home and still go out to eat sometimes, too? Homebrewing and drinking commercial beer are in no way mutually exclusive.
I believe this hobby requires Xerox-Parc-levels of research. I buy beer ALL THE TIME. From BMC to craft brews to imports, I'm always buying some sort of beer. I've got a little side bet going with the top brass at the Pentagon that I can spend more on commercial beer than they do on their war toys. They're winning right now, but I think I can pull out a win by the end of the year.
Costs are getting expensive for craft brews. The sweet spot these days seems to be the big brewery imports. Domestics are up in price and craft beers are WAY up in price. For example, yesterday I picked up a 12-pack of Coors Light for $11, a 12-pack of Warsteiner Oktoberfest for $14 and a 12-pack of Sierra Nevada Summer Brew for $18. To me the Warsteiner is the best beer for the money in that lot. I even see a lot of Spaten stuff like Optimator and Dunkel lately for $12-$14 per 12-pack. I haven't stopped buying craft beer by by means, but I buy a lot less of it now.