[majjgepolja]

It was that previously these publishers were printing and distributing journals, before the internet.

Some of the journals are naturally more prestigious than others. Academics want to publish in these famous journals. The name of journals they publish in carries lot of value for an academic's career. (That's what matters for the big head dudes who manage funds / promotions, they don't understand all these open access stuff.)

Thus, the publisher has a monopoly or oligopoly on high value journals, new open access free as in libre journal cannot establish itself.

Even if you're a well meaning academic who wishes not to contribute to this oligopoly, when you are young you don't want to risk your career. When you're old there are other young people under you and you don't want to risk their career.

The big ~~head~~ belly dudes in positions of power are ones who need to understand this.