[elithrar]

> How about 1) Write book. 2) Spend a day or two getting it on Amazon, Apple, B&N online. 3) Keep 100%. Might be harder for authors who need marketing but I have no idea why established authors aren't self-publishing en masse.

The issue there is that if no one knows about you or your book, 100% of nothing is still nothing. Publishers also often provide advances, which can be make a big difference.

Note that I am not defending some of their questionable business practices, but to pretend they provide zero value is silly.

[sireat]

There have been numerous posts by authors (some here on HN) that publishers offer very little marketing these days.

You have to do the marketing legwork yourself, even if you are with a major publisher.

The advances might be the one thing they offer, but then Kickstarter might be an option.