Hey, thanks to everybody who has responded! I must have struck a tender spot.
So I guess the "aged-paper" is right out, huh? @Xanthe, can't we even entice you with the scratch-and-sniff mildew?
I see by the poll count that the preferences are highest for a clean appearance (clearly understandable!), with a few outliers wanting the "aged" appearance, and a few more outliers who don't read vintage books anyway.
I think probably these preferences would hold true for any genre/style book. It looks as though I will continue to do my book projects as I always have.
I've never embedded a font for body text in any of the books I have uploaded here, just so readers *can* use their own choice. But I often do use decorative fonts for titling and drop-caps. But wouldn't it be wonderful if all devices/apps could allow the user to use a Publisher Font for body text, and still adjust size and leading/kerning?
@wombat, why you be dissin' that cute little Comic Sans?
No, I know it is unsuitable for body text, it's too restless. It is why I won't use Charis SIL in spite of all the online love --- The letter heights seem to vary just a bit, and to my eyes give a "hills and valleys" appearance.
I saw a remark somewhere that somebody sometimes uses Courier New, and that one I totally don't understand -- the font is so light and thin, I don't even like to use it on a pc monitor, but use instead Bitstream Vera or Deja Vu when I need a monospace font. Monaco is my first love for monospace, but it's not re-distributable. I'm test-driving the recently released Courier Prime (SIL OFL License).