Starbucks vs the used bookstore

[elf]

Dean Wesley Smith, whose blog I love, has a post about ebook prices, in which he reposts a comment about how low ebook prices are bad; discerning customers believe anything priced at $.99 is crap, and besides, authors should be willing to think of their short-story ebooks like a Starbucks coffee: $5 gets you 15 minutes of entertainment. (Starbucks has physical substance, but the ebook can be read again, and in some cases, loaned out; it pretty much balances.)

While I can understand their points, I disagree with some of their conclusions because I think they're missing some of the factors involved in ebook purchases. I made a comment which was long enough (and borderline-ranty enough) that I'm reposting it here:

( I don't actually expect to convince anyone over there; I'd just like them to think about a few more factors when setting prices. )