Fair enough, it sounds like you are looking for more of a sponsorship/patronage model than a product-based business. I understand, but I think it could be a more challenging model to make sustainable.

I'd also just say that selling a product doesn't have to be impersonal, and in fact you will get much better results if you do it in a more authentic and human way. It's not actually so different to a patronage model when you are small. Part of the reason many people who are early adopters like buying from small startups or solopreneurs is that it's much more relationship-based and the founder will listen to their needs and concerns.