I think that there is probably a wide audience out there that will get the message of the show. Broadway shows- even ones with cultish followings like Rent- aren't even on some people's radars, so the movie will definitely reach an audience out there that would have never even considered seeing Rent before it was available in their local movie theater. It's not that they shouldn't be able to like the show either, they just didn't have the same experience as seeing the stage show first.
And some won't get the message, but is that really a problem? Not everyone loves Rent after seeing it on stage, but that doesn't mean that it would have been better had they had not seen it all.
I just think it's not fair to say that one person's response/obsession level with the show is more appropriate than someone else's. The majority of current fans (myself included) were not camping out in the line to see the OBC back in the beginning. So those fans that did may say that their perspective of the show is superior to yours, because you can only live vicariously through the OBCR. If you involve yourself in the "I'm a bigger/better Rent fan than you!" arguments, then clearly, you lost the original message of the show as well.
Besides, if 10 other girls are doing Out Tonight in the school talent show, your version can have the original stage costume and choreography, and you can put them all to shame with your fire escape dancing.
P.S. Marquise, where did you get that picture? Rosario looks so pretty!
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never
knowing how