I don't think it's a matter of being afraid. I don't see anything wrong in keeping things completely separate. If for some reason, your job requires that you do that, then nobody should be judging. You're not a liar, you're not a scumbag, you're not doing anything wrong. I think a lot of people envy AS in a way - he's got a lot of insider info that lots of people wish they did, he knows personally a lot of people who some of you wish you did and he might even earn a living (or close to it) because of his involvement with his passion, which a lot of you wish they could. I think it's about time people should quit getting sand in your vaginas because AS won't say what his involvement is or isn't. If he doesn't want to say it, it's his right. Shut the fuck up about it already. This is older than the download/no download debate.
And trust me, I do think AS can be a troll as well and think that he tends to give out some "out of the blue" insults. I don't agree with that either. But let's be fair, there's quite a few who do that around here...