These days my ecosystem guides are published as ebooks!
The change from hard copy books to e-books was driven by a few things.
First, I now use kindle and e-books. So I figured other naturalists must also be doing this. I have started to leave my hard copy field guides at home for weight redution reasons, and I now buy as many field guides and reference books as I can on my kindle.
Second, was the hassle of lugging around books to sell. They weigh a lot if I do it myself and it is expensive and a hassle to use a distributor.
Third, the cost. It is expensive to print and publish hard copy books.
Fourth, I can update them quickly.
Fifth, I can offer them for a cheaper price.
Sixth, I can produce more titles.
Finally, I can offer them to a much bigger audience.
Your second block of text...