I don't consider myself a fan of MJ fanfics, but I did like some of the ones I've read.
I started reading some stories here and there a few years back. Haven't read any lately, tho.
I don't think I've completely lost interest or anything. Maybe it was just a phase where it was new to me like, "What is this?!" and got into it, but the fresh feeling started wearing off at some point, I guess.
Well, if I stumble upon any good stories again, I know I would become the same passionate reader I was.
"Realistic" (Yes, fanfics can be that!) ones are what I go for most of the time.
For example, if Michael is portrayed to be this perfect gentleman who can be everything for every girl, then the story wouldn't keep me interested.
Just for a little while, when you're reading, good authors bring him back to life and it's nice to have that feeling sometimes.
You do have a point. Maybe the number of fanfic readers increased not long after he passed?...
Me, I wasn't consciously looking for something to fill that void. Now that I think about it, probably, getting into the world of fanfics subconsciously became one of my ways of coping.