the struggle to break in to the art market

What a wild ride its been. I have amassed an enormous amount of information about "the market" , entering galleries, entering shows, participating in outdoor shows, participating in auctions, etc. etc. It has been 20 plus years now. I have my work in a few galleries, have participated in many, many shows. Still, it is a constant struggle. There seems to be a terrible chasm in the art education department of our country. Very few people understand or buy modern art. No art education in that realm, no appreciation, few sales. Do people that buy art mostly buy it for the value it will eventually appreciate or because they absolutely love the work and can't live without it?