I understand your point of view, I agree with you for the evolution of what beeing a furry mean, I'm a good exemple, I concider myselph as a furry but I think I'll never being a fursuit guy, cosplay is not my trip. And the plush side, which is basically the "real" furry, is definitly not my thing.
But when you say "I really do think there's not a connection between the two concepts" how can u explain all these illustrations representing OUR sexual fantasy ? (when I think of the number of artists who have had to study horse penises) it's not an aggressive question, it's really beyond me.. And even the "classic" erotic scenes but with werewolf skins with real canine sex. I see a lot of people assume that it excites them, me too, but because I really dream of being savagely taken by a cannid that is twice my size x) I have a hard time understanding what is exciting in these drawings when you are not a zoo ? Exept the savage part but this is not the case in all furry erotic/porn illustrations.