They aren't more important than the characters but they are important.

1) "I want to buy that book because Frank Miller wrote it" or "I want that book because Andy Kubert drew it."

2) "I want that new Legion of Super-Heroes book" or "I've loved the Fantastic Four so long, and I want to keep reading their stories."

I think we know. If Alan Moore and Alex Ross did a "Willie Lumpkin" comic, it would sell in droves. And their talent surely deserves recognition - but in the end, the comics should be selling the comics.

Putting the creators above the creations obviates the creations. Might as well just buy sketchbooks and practice drawings... What? What's that you say? Oy...

N.B. This is in no way intended to denigrate Messrs. Miller, Kubert, Moore, or Ross. They're just the ones that came to mind first.

Consider this:

You have an author's name being used as a brand as big as the book title -- and he didn't even write the book.

I find it hard to get worked up over a marginal product like these collector cards.

If a writer's name gets bigger on the title than 'The Amazing Spider-Man' I will be duly concerned, but we're not there yet.