Hmmm, as much as I agree with you, I must also disagree with you.

The way the realm of print is there is a need for publishers, distributors, etc etc. But the thing is that there is a need for 2 different forms of them. One for the standard dead tree format that has been around and served the world well for many years and another for the competing digital sector.

Even though they are called the same they emphasize and use completely separate systems to deliver the material to the end users. The problem comes when they try and force all of it into the same procedure and spreadsheet, something not easily or competently done.

Why do we need any of these people with digital? Properly done (something that is just now starting to happen) a publisher can act as a management system helping authors navigate the legal and market trails that abound in the real world. They can help supply interested authors with tools to produce better books (since the better the book, the better the return on investment). Publishing can change from buying a product from a writer to acting as a service provider, exchanging percentage for things like final editing, format conversion, discounted programs for previous authors. Something as seemingly simple as providing an online location with links to similar books from the same house would be of immense benefit to a writer and well worth a percentage.

Book stores? Well, the best thing there is that you don't have to hunt for books. Again, the name is the same but the function and services offered change. Rarely will I find a book by going to the authors website (especially a new writer) while I will often find one while browsing for similar titles. It's starting to become more common to see tags such as "if you like this author, try these" or "if you like this book, look at this one" on the booklist itself or in the little discussion box that may accompany it. With the numerous authors, both new and experienced, that exist out there, for the end reader to be able to go to a central place and search for books is more crucial than ever.

Just look at two of the most popular bookstores for Mobileread visitors: BooksOnBoard and Fictionwise. Make no mistake, they are bookstores and if you were to propose to people on these forums that they weren't needed and generally useless...well, you would probably be able to hear the laughter even without being online.

Again, I agree with you that the current system for publishing, distributing and selling books has no real place in the digital world but I do believe these businesses do have a place in publishing, just not as they exist now.