I think a big problem is that publisher's don't incorporate (not yet, anyway) ebooks into their original work flow and are converting ebooks, so without another proof read, a lot of typos get in. And makes it more expensive.
Aslo, from M Tamblyn at Shortcovers: That's what our customer stats say: lower price = *way* higher purchase frequency. *And* the first one's free ;-) (@mtamblyn on Twitter)
eBook purchasing is a LOT different from print book buying. It's convenient, it's immediate, and is not just competing against books, it's competing against all portable media. Maybe you want to download a movie onto your ipod, but maybe you'll just get a book instead.
I also would debate the cost of production vs. distribution knowing that a friend of mine works at a large house, makes crap wages, and in her three years of being an editorial assistant has gotten one raise.
Plus! The cut that publishers get is usually at least 10% higher than they get on print titles, often more with big houses (excluding Amazon).
And here's a funny article about ebook pricing from Kassia Krozser
http://digitalbookworld.wordpress.co...r-my-revolver/