Frankly, I'd be perfectly fine with that if the costs were scaled down to reflect the limited use. As it is I feel ebooks are largely overpriced given how much less you can do with them than a dead tree book.
Exactly. The content racketeers like to tar their opponents as "spoiled children who want free w4r3z." But the fight is really about control over the means of distribution; which translates into control over culture in general.
Judging by their move to ebooks, the cost will only be marginally scaled down.
I do really look forward to a distribution system that will benefit content creators and be convenient and fair to consumers. I just don't know what it looks like. It's an excellent opportunity for someone with an idea, though.
Micropayments (one obvious implication) seem like a great idea until every click starts to cost you money. The problem with buying information in general is that evaluating a purchase has a mental cost. Do you want to think "should I?" before you click on a link? I don't.
Ownership isn't just a matter of objects and revenue. It is control of information.