@kspalaiologos I don't see why authors can't make a digital sources+readable file of the book also available directly from them under a free license (i.e. GNU Free Documentation License), or even the GPLv3-or-later, leading to enhanced profit as there is no publisher tax and the copying fee is next to 0.

The only blocker I can see to this is if the author is foolish enough to surrender their copyright to publisher than demands they do so to get the book printed.


People can even print it off if they want it in a physical form, before realizing 20 pages in that the physical version doesn't cost much more and is easier.