Yes, it was definitely fashionable. There was a whole litany of authors who dissed the ficcers and thought themselves cool. And then had to walk it back. Yarbro, Gabeldon, a few others whose names escape me. I do recall that JKR was once lauded for telling WB to stop prosecuting the fic writers who weren't monetizing their works. Now, the bitch needs to be burned at the stake.