Self-publishing a book is not cheap. For me personally it called for a great financial sacrifice. BUT I made the decision to deplete my savings account and self-publish because I felt it was important to say what I had to say!
The joy of holding that first copy of the finished book for the first time is a joy that only another author could appreciate! I believed then and I continue to believe that it is not so important how many people BUY my book; what is important is how many people READ my book. And that is why I have such an appreciation for BookCrossing. BC is giving me the opportunity to get the word out, to offer free copies of my book; to make it available TO BE READ.
However, it would be less than honest for me to say that I don't care about selling the book, about earning back some of the many dollars I invested in getting it published.
So I guess I see both sides of this discussion. Yes, how great to have purity of intention, to write for the sheer fulfillment of writing. But, well, it's not quite that simple....I have bills to pay.....I would like to rebuild my savings account........I would like to be able to give money to some truly incredible non-profits.......I would like to go to London.......I would like to......etc.etc.etc.