I agree for the most part. But, I think it is important to remember that it is Stevie who put the emphaisis on the way she looked out there in the first place. She is the one who initially sold herself and her craft as a young, hot looking , sexy female artist (much like the young artists of today in fact only to a lesser extreme). So, when she no longer looked that way, it is only logical that people would go "what happened to that sexy girl," etc.
Disclaimer: I am in no way am I saying that Stevie is not a great songwriter, or that she does not have a good voice, or anything like that. In fact, I think her words and her delivery of them played and still play a significant part of her charm for many if not all people who like ot liked her. I am solely saying that when she prepared the "package" to sell to people, she consciously put sex way up in the front. So, when in many people' eyes that sexiness went away when she gained weight, she should not have been that surprised. In fact, for years (1989-94), she dressed to hide the weight gain in an effort to remain sexy. So, she must have known something.
This example may help me make my point. Assume Bob sees two people at the same time but does not know either of them in any way; they are complete strangers. Person A is Bob's ideal as far as body type, looks, etc. Person B is not and is someone Bob would not be attracted to based on looks only. Bob's eyes will naturally go to the one that is his type. Right or wrong, nine out of ten times that will be a well-built and non-obese person. Having said that, Bob may later learn that Person A (his ideal) is really a jerk and that Person B (his non-ideal) is really Bob's soulmate. How many people in general would give that non-ideal person the time to find that out. Most people would not.
I think the same line of thought can be used for Stevie. If you were used to seeing her slim and hot (most people's ideal) and then she appears onstage 50 or so pounds heavier (most people non-ideal), most people will be turned off and say "what happened to her!" So, while I agree Stevie's weight (not health) did not really affect my opinion of her as a songstress, my eyes did not like seeing her overweight.
I hope that makes sense and I did not come off as a jerk
