Yep; as I've always said, a bad day writing is better than a good day doing (almost) anything else. But even though my books are available as both print and e-books, you're right--it's a bad time to become a writer. You'd think being easier to self-publish would be a good thing, but it means more and more competition for what seems like fewer and fewer readers.
And no, I don't have to sell books to put food on the table ... but I'd like to. By which I mean I'd like to both have to do it and be successful at doing it!
My Images of America: Albion and Noble County book is similarly a niche market, like that one ... and it's one of my better sellers. But I had a major publisher behind me, beating the bushes for buyers, and I'd collected some beautiful old historical pictures to go in it. The number of people interested in historical stuff continues to amaze me. I should add that you're right about that, too--it wasn't a writer friendly project. I love history, but I'd rather be writing fiction.