[MaxGabriel]

I don't see how that follows. Except in a few cases where a paid online course is coupled with a free textbook, why would people realizing textbooks aren't as important mean they would release them as free ebooks?

[dkersten]

why would people realizing textbooks aren't as important mean they would release them as free ebooks?

Perhaps because they are realizing that people aren't buying them? I'm sure they don't have to be free though, but rather just not expensive.