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I had a long reply which just got eaten by the forum gremlins. Yuck. I'll make this one briefer.
Jeffery, all I was doing was responding to what YOU said about 'writers should be writers.' But I think there IS a difference between a hobby writer and a 'professional' writer who views it as their job and source of income. If you want it to be your job, not just a hobby, then different standards apply. I'll use myself as an example. I went to journalism school, worked as a journalist, got paid for my writing and found that I hated pretty much every non-writing aspect of the job. I just couldn't do it. It wasn't my thing. So I write on the side now, as a hobby, and do something else for my bread and butter. I do have a few pet projects I may put out there someday, but I would absolutely do it through alternative channels because I know that the publishing 'industry' is not my thing.
If on the other hand you view this as a job and a business and the books are the product you are selling, then I think there is an expectation on the customer's part that they will get a quality product. I know the odd typo happens, and that's fine. I know there are things only a professional editor might catch. My original post was not about that. It was about stuff that an average person giving them book a one-time read through should catch, and can you honestly tell me you can't find one person---a spouse or family member, a friend, even a fan off your mailing list who would volunteer in exchange for a free copy of the book or something? Not one person who could so such a read-through and give the content one final check with eyes besides your own?
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