Havlen,
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And, I'd guess, the idea in publishing would be the more you go off the script, the bigger chance of failure.
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Pretty much. If you are known as a sci fi writer and you are popular with the sci fi audience, then author, publisher and agent can all be reasonably well assured that, provided the quality of your work doesn't drop, you can continue to satisfy demand. Everyone then gets to pay their mortgage and buy the odd pint of beer into the bargain.
But if you decide to have a go at something else, you have two issues. Firstly, can you really write that chick lit blockbuster about impossibly beautiful young London mothers balancing childcare, careers and extra-marital affairs as well as you can write science fiction?* And secondly, even if you can, will your sci fi audience want to read it? Because if not, you need a new audience and it's right back to square one - building a reputation and a readership and so on.
This was really my point. When you have sold enough copies to be able to dictate what you write and when, good luck to you. But otherwise, your agent or publisher is going to want you doing what you are good at, what you are established at and what you know that everyone can get paid for. Satisfying an existing demand is always easier than creating a new one.
Regards,
Peter
* there is probably a Texan equivalent!