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I don't care about productions costs of books vs ebooks. I didn't care about the production costs of books before ebooks came along. I pay for a collection of words that I want to read. Always have. (I never cared about the envelope that letters sent to me were delivered in either) The words are the only thing that interest (hold any value for) me. I've never resold a book in my life (though I've given away plenty—and lost even more along the way).
So I really don't give two hoots about the production costs that are involved in getting those words in front of my eyes, regardless of the medium. I'm willing to pay AS MUCH for my ebooks as I am for the cheapest in-print (brand-new, not used, not on sale promotionally) physical copy of the same book. Possibly more for the added benefit of not having to drag my ass to the bookstore, or wait 4-5 days for delivery—not to mention the shipping costs saved. The transition from physical to digital hasn't reduced the value of those words I want to read. Not one bit. The paper and the binding meant/mean nothing to me—which should be rather obvious considering I've made a wholesale switch to ebooks.
Even if all ebooks were the EXACT SAME price as their physical counterparts (in this transitional publishing period we appear to be in), I can't see how that would contribute to the end of the world or a reduction in literacy. And in fact, ebooks have proven to be consistently (on average) still cheaper than their physical counterparts.
So it's been a "Very Special Reader Christmas" every day, for the past couple of years for me. I'm saving money on every single book I purchase (by not having to go the dead-tree route). The fact that someone is making a killing off of the bargain I'm getting doesn't interest me in the least.
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