The problem is, for these single-developer shops, the work has to be fun. If you have to start making games you don't like, you might as well go get a job working for someone else.
It's funny, the way to run a successful business is to be insanely good at giving customers what they want. OTOH that means you're working for them now.
A lot of indie game developers are more like artists. They want to make what they themselves like. Luckily, a few of them can find a middle ground doing what they like (mostly), and satisfying customers.
I don't see how tailoring product to netbooks is anti-fun. You can see it as a challenge. You could find a way to express the same information, but in a graphically minimal way.
I'm not saying it can't be fun. It's just not my cup of tea. Therefore I don't want to do it. Therefore I'll suck at a business model that depends on doing it.
It's funny, the way to run a successful business is to be insanely good at giving customers what they want. OTOH that means you're working for them now.
A lot of indie game developers are more like artists. They want to make what they themselves like. Luckily, a few of them can find a middle ground doing what they like (mostly), and satisfying customers.