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Originally Posted by bhartman36
unless the professor is going to be a schmuck and have tests like, "On page 103 of your textbook, what word does the author use to describe...".
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You'd be surprised. I had a take-home mid-term once with an essay question that began 'discuss, in narrative form, the history of literary criticism as outlined by SoandSo in Chapter 4 of your course text.' And this was in 2000, when we were still in paper and every textbook was on reserve at the library so you at least had that option.
On a more recent note, I have taken several containing ed courses on-line which allowed me to upgrade a professional qualification I hold, and in all of those courses, 50% of the course grade was based on participation, with participation being defined as 'posting on the message board a minimum of every three days in a way that proves you did the course reading.' No course reading, no grade for the course. Since it was all on-line, they had no other way to assess it. One time, there WAS an ebook option, it was the kind that expires, and I vowed never to do that again, but they did have a print version available too for a slightly higher price so you at least had the option.
I agree that it can be 'disheartening' to find a work of yours on a torrent site, but I think that it can be as disheartening to be priced out of higher education by people who just don't get it. I am thankful that during my degree (1996-2000) most of the professors seemed sensitive to the price of the books and would tell us which ones were perhaps a little less required
There was also a shift toward custom course packs where a handful of chapters from different sources could be compiled into a kit you could buy for a fairly low price ($30 for something that would be at least double that if you had to buy a 'proper' textbook). Granted, those had no re-sale value since they were specific to that course and that term, but still, it was a better deal for students.
Like any 'product' for sale, you have to look at what your market can stand. Whether it is right or wrong, the reality is that when faced with $150 for an expiring book or with a torrent download, most students won't think twice. The way to combat 'piracy' in any form of digital media is not by locking it up even tighter but by making sure it is available at a price your market will pay.