I don't think it is up to the ultimate consumer to become interested in what we (as developers) are doing. I think it is up to us to explain to them just what problem we are going to solve or just how we are going to save them time or money.
Thats marketing - identify the target market. Convince that market segment that they need your product and then make sure that you don't put obstacles in their way while they are trying to buy it.
I think that some of the best products will come from programmers who find audiences with whom to coevolve the product: getting into a tight feedback loop with a bright bunch of alpha or beta testers.
