I dont buy this idea, if I'm attending 40-46 league games a season and did throughout the clubs worst period, I'd say I was a better fan than somebody who stayed at home shouting NOPM at Facebook then turned up for their big day out at Wembley
A family member of mine was a season ticket holder for 30 years. But rarely knew any of the new signings or youngsters. And often got the players on the pitch wrong or mixed up (no, it's not Clive). I'd go to many half a dozen matches a season and could tell you way more about the players, how they played, what our tactics and formations were and I'd only either be reading match reports or listening on the radio most of the season.
I go to that many games because that's how I enjoy it - it's a special treat every so often and how I got interested as a kid - it was a treat for birthday/Xmas/easter etc.
I've got varied interests - I also enjoy going to watch other sports like cricket. I go to the theatre and watch comedy and also an occassional gig. I enjoy days out in the country and looking round museums.
I got a season ticket one year and by around December I was sick of the football. Going to the game in the middle of winter, esp evening games, felt like a chore rather than a pleasure. I could understand why the person with the season ticket didn't know that much because I completely tuned out and lost interest in following all the other aspects and would have no idea we'd signed a player on loan. That would've never happened before.
So as of then I went back to the occasional game mixed in with doing other stuff and I've paid much more attention. It's how I like it and I don't give a fuck what anyone else thinks of that.