While I kind of want to give a snarky answer of "actually, buying an ebook without DRM is exactly as easy as it is as buying one with, the trick is just finding one without DRM," the truth is that this is dependent entirely on the publisher. I buy a lot of technical books from Pragmatic Programmers, which are all DRM-free, and I believe they're not alone in that. My small press fiction publisher doesn't use DRM; Tor Books, the biggest sf/fantasy publisher, doesn't use DRM, either. People who self-publish through Amazon are given a choice whether or not to apply DRM to their books.
So, no, it's actually quite possible to buy a DRM-free ebook. The question is whether the book you want is available without DRM.
I worded it badly. It's as you said. In my experience if I want to buy a given X book it's almost certain that I will not be able to purchase it in a non-DRM format. Because DRM became de facto in the industry and only a small share of titles are available to purchase without it.
> People who self-publish through Amazon are given a choice whether or not to apply DRM to their books.
Didn't now Amazon also sold non-DRM. I guess the authors of the books that I was enticed to buy opted for it.
> Tor Books, the biggest sf/fantasy publisher, doesn't use DRM, either.
Have read short stories published there. Content generally is good and innovative.
So, no, it's actually quite possible to buy a DRM-free ebook. The question is whether the book you want is available without DRM.