You're gonna be bothered by how cool I am.

I think another factor that's related to being a fan (even if not in a "fandom" per se) is the combination of a longggggg gap between installments with ginormous expectations. Something like this would just get so built up in one's mind in advance and there's probably not much that would measure up, regardless of one's specific ideas about or hopes for the backstory.

In addition, there's something about the way the magic of certain fictional worlds are so enchanting because they, in part, just catch us off guard. Falling in love is always more natural when it's completely unexpected. ;)