Customers increase your revenues and your costs. If you're making a play that's long-term by necessity and will be running at a loss for a while, then customer acquisition actually speeds up your burn.
On the other hand, VCs determine: whether your company can raise money, whether your competitors get funding, what your acquisition/exit options are, and what kind of job you personally will get after leaving the company (one way or another).
Also, VCs are a small set of people who all know each other and in which one voice can end not just your job or company but your career. Customers are a large set of people where one might get pissed off and write a bad Yelp review.
On the other hand, VCs determine: whether your company can raise money, whether your competitors get funding, what your acquisition/exit options are, and what kind of job you personally will get after leaving the company (one way or another).
Also, VCs are a small set of people who all know each other and in which one voice can end not just your job or company but your career. Customers are a large set of people where one might get pissed off and write a bad Yelp review.