Philosophical appreciation is not the same as biographical appreciation. Why do people keep mixing them up?

Let me tell you right now that, philosophically, I don't really give a damn what Ayn Rand believed. Likewise, when it comes to Scientology I don't give a damn what Tom Cruise believes. What I want to know are the premises, the reasoning and the conclusions. Is it sound? Is it valad? Does it wash out harsh stains and leave my dishes squeeky-clean?

Call me crazy, but I want to go out on a radical limb here and suggest that we qua Objectivists are wasting our time studying Ayn Rand. We should be studying Objectivism instead.