[stonetools]

All this talk of "corner grocery stores" etc. miss the main point: that the B&M stores are providing a superior shopping & browsing experience that's been mis-appropriated by online retailers. That has ZERO to do with buggy whips, milkmen, or anything else. You bring up these examples because its suits you but those are examples of obsolescence, not misappropriation of value. I know this is kind of going against your ideology and isn't immediately obvious, but please stop mis-characterizing the argument .
The point of Amazon not paying sales tax and (allegedly) not complying with fair labor practices shows that the playing field is tilted against B&M booksellers who can't avoid sales tax and who have comply with more stringent labor regulations.
Again, if you are an Amazon lover, you tend to gloss over these Amazon advantages and pontificate about the march of the history and the awesome wonderfulness of THE INTERNET!!! The point is maybe Amazon shouldn't be gifted these somewhat unsavory advantages. I say that as an Amazon customer who is at least trying to be objective.