canon and shipping

So, I've been reading around about some of the rows in HP fandom and about how upset some shippers were that HBP pretty much invalidated Harry/Hermione, and about some things that JKR has said that pretty much put the final nail in the coffin. And really, I'm baffled by how upset people are. Now, I understand that some of the things she said, could be considered insulting to Harry/Hermione shippers (in that way that overzealous fen can get insulted by things that aren't really all that insulting), but most of the outrage I've seen has been directed toward JKR, not for the remarks, but for not actually writing their ship. Maybe it's just because I'm a slasher and am therefore more used to never having my OTP borne out by the canon, but I don't get it. It seems like so many shippers need to have their ship validated by canon. Isn't the point of fanfic to explore other possibilities in these universes? Am I missing something here? Does the fact that I know going in that Harry and Ron are not going to get together allow me to divorce myself from a certain amount of disappointment? If I were into more, shall we say...conventional pairings, would I be more invested in their canonocity? I don't know.

Thought's anyone?