Hi Michel- First, a technical note for the IPS fic site: if you're on a site with a summary and links to reviews, (but no story) click on the title link again, near the bottom, and it'll take you to the story itself

The Mary_Marshall Livejournal's got even more, at this point, that're just under cuts. And I'm sure ff.net will, soon as we start asking for an IPS category.
On the fanfiction front: as much as I love to debate, I couldn't even begin to argue with you here. Personally, I'm coming from a much different place: I've bounced around fic for dozens of fandoms over the last 10 years; reading, writing, beta'ing... And I'm a lit crit by trade. I don't even know if it's right, all my gut-reaction analysis, since it just means I start questioning everything further maybe than I should. But I can't change that for myself, not anymore.
But about your fanfic experience... I remember that feeling ;] I had it for my first fandom, way back when. Small and shortlived as it was. And I still have it for a few 'doms, where the fanbase was limited and I knew/know everyone, know where all the stories came from, or maybe just know where every fic hit a new note because we've still not put out enough to come close to repeating ourselves.
Because I truly believe that if you're of a mind for it, fanfiction redeliniates our relationship with a mass media product. Somehow it's stronger than just talking with other fans about our attraction for certain characters, pairings or storylines. It's like suddenly, a completely new dreamscape, where before all we had was the bare bones of possibility. A place to hide and a place to find yourself, wrapped up in the guise of someone writing from one state over. Emotional/intellectual discourse without the pretensions and with all the gut reactions and feelings that make us human.
There's all these things I wish I knew to say about your experience. Maybe I'd know better if I'd gone off and read all those academic papers on fanfiction and whatnot. Probably not. Really though, what do I know? I was hundreds of miles away when Katrina hit, and spent the aftermath crying over NPR reports on the way back from classes. But I've give up fanfic before, given up TV entirely for various reasons that seemed huge at the time. And found going back to a fandom life not nearly as easy as it was meant to be. I guess it meant more to me than I realized.
Anyway, I wanted to wish you the best of luck and enjoyment. IPS is an amazing fandom, and getting better all the time. *Huggles*