"which yes will make it cost more than a paperback while ebooks remain a secondary release"
You mean because paperbacks use the formatting from the hardcover edition, so their formatting comes for free?
I am still not convinced that your maths is really set in stone. For example, does the retailer still need to get 40%? Editors and proof readers are the same for ebooks as for paperbacks, hopefully.
How hard is the formatting of an ebook, what does it entail? I don't think they can just add new paragraphs? Couldn't the process be automated (LateX seems to be doing quite well with automated layout?
You mean because paperbacks use the formatting from the hardcover edition, so their formatting comes for free?
I am still not convinced that your maths is really set in stone. For example, does the retailer still need to get 40%? Editors and proof readers are the same for ebooks as for paperbacks, hopefully.
How hard is the formatting of an ebook, what does it entail? I don't think they can just add new paragraphs? Couldn't the process be automated (LateX seems to be doing quite well with automated layout?