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I haven't read this whole thread, but I think the problems with DRM are mainly cost and implementation.
People have said they object to paying for an ebook, then not being able to lend it to someone, or to read it on a different device. Fair enough, so they should be priced to compensate for this. They're usually cheaper than a printed copy, but I don't know if the difference is enough. And if I could buy a second copy for a different device much more cheaply, I might not mind.
Others have complained that they can't get a copy that works on their device. This is an implementation problem. I don't know what it would take, but DRM ebooks should be available in versions for any device. DRM is being used to protect publishers and distributors, not authors, and it's this that's causing availablilty problems.
Then there's the argument that it's pointless anyway since DRM can be easily broken. That's another implementation problem - to be effective it needs to be unbreakable. But even with things as they are, the argument isn't quite true. Lots of people don't want to try to learn how to break DRM. I haven't tried yet, but I'm guessing that if I do then I'll end up having to download some piece of software to do it that might or might not be spyware, etc.
I'm not convinced that simply publishing DRM free will make more sales. It might for some niche subjects because it will be advertised by word of mouth. But for popular stuff, so many people will just steal it. People do it now with printed books by photocopying them, but it's so hard that most won't bother. Copying a file is so easy, you'd feel stupid paying for it.
Conclusion: DRM's a good idea, but not the way it's implemented now.
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