Of course it's an issue of complexity.
"RPG fans may be more accepting of a cover designed by an inexpensive cover designer who uses all block lettering and a stock picture because they already know the relevancy of the book to them"
No, they are not. It's a cutthroat, competitive market and presentation and layout is
critical to reviewing and selling well, especially because of 05-06 glut of poorly laid out and formated books. Have you actually looked at some of the samples out there, or was that really an attempt to make it look like you really just shot your own argument in the foot?
It's a niche, but your costings are ludicrously high and bluntly I think you're doing very well at looking to be part of the issue which ebooks need to overcome.
(Oh, and your marketing budget is also utterly flipping ludicrous. For $5k, I can put a banner advert in front of millions of people in the correct market. I can't guarantee any particular website, but...Project Wonderful in particular is bluntly AMAZING.)
Derek - More complex
Much moreso. And it's a highly critical (as in "critical if you do stuff wrong") market out there these days.