Something else that makes e-publishing better for independent authors - the very fast turnaround between writing and publishing.
Renee Pawlish had a mystery novel out, involving Colorado's legalization of pot - in September, with a turn around between writing and publishing of a bit under a month. (It takes a heck of a lot longer to get a print book out the door. Page lengths are a lot less flexible when it comes to formatting for print.)
Which means that the legalization was still headlining when the book was released.
She may not be selling as many copies as an e-book, but she is also getting a larger cut of the sales.
Publishers are better when books sell over a certain (though as yet undetermined) amount - they allow a much larger exposure for well established authors.
But since the amount of profit from each book is so small, publishers only focus on those well established authors - making it much more difficult to enter the market.
This has been true in the music industry for decades - Sally Rogers makes more selling fewer albums, but making the CDs herself for selling at her concerts. (Sally Rogers is one of the nicest people that you are ever likely to meet.)
If you want to make a steady income in the e-publishing industry? Become a freelance editor.
The Auld Grump
