Or they're doing it because they wanted a particular piece of artwork.

I've generated a ton of stuff over the years and never once thought about selling any of it, because I generated it to use it. Or just because I thought it would be funny.

I think there's a lot of projection here. A lot of people who use AI art tools couldn't care less about whether they're called "artists", it just doesn't matter. It's irrelevant. The goal is to have the art, not to gain some particular arbitrary title.