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The industry has come to understand and accept print loss, through theft, borrowing, used sales, "pulping" unsold stock, etc. They have adjusted their operations and profit models accordingly, to make the realities of the market work for them.
There is a clear need to similarly understand and finally accept the economics of e-book loss, and adjust their operations and profit models again. It may not be fun, but it's not impossible. And I think the publishers know that.
Their main concern for publishers, I'm sure, is more immediate: That sea-change in their operations will cost them revenue and profit short-term, something owners and investors are loathe to see in this "instant gratification" world of ours. When everyone involved knows that change means their bank accounts are going to be smaller, they tend to avoid change as long as they can. Many of them won't move to change until the present market finally slips through their fingers. Then they'll either decide to change, or they'll retire from the publishing industry.
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