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So to me, this whole discussion (at least the parts that haven't drifted to DRM) is about what I see as the REAL sea change here - taking the publisher role out from between authors and readers. SF/F/H already has a more permeable membrane than does literary fiction. When Jeffrey essentially makes an offer to honor the sale of his ebooks DESPITE what may happen with any publisher in the future, he is saying "I'm your guy. You care about my work, keep a relationship with me and I will watch out for you."
The whole idea of affordances of e-text or this reader or that reader, DRM or no-DRM - these are all side topics. The real issue is that it is now economically feasible for authors to have direct relationships with readers and fans on a big scale. It doesn't require a big publisher with resources to have a list with contact info for thousands of likely readers. This is huge and I wish more authors would realize how much of their own fate they now hold in their own hands.
This is not a thing to fear, this is a thing to embrace. From what I've heard from author friends and acquaintances over the years, the money couldn't get much worse with the status quo so what do y'all have to lose?
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