As far as the margins, I agree they're gross - but the problem is that selling that eBook eats into sales of the physical book. So I don't mind seeing high initial eBook prices as long as they drop over time, so that as remaining physical copies of the book drop off and/or are less likely to sell and/or get remaindered, the eBook becomes more affordable because it's not cutting into sales any more. So if you put the eBook out at the same time as the hardcover - it should be priced high then but lower six months later and lower still two years later. (Not suggesting the price be dropped at those points, just that I'd expect different prices at those points.)
In another comment it was noted that the pricing scheme would drop the price over time, perhaps as low as $4. I'd snap up several books in eBook at $4 a pop...when they got there.
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As far as the margins, I agree they're gross - but the problem is that selling that eBook eats into sales of the physical book. So I don't mind seeing high initial eBook prices as long as they drop over time, so that as remaining physical copies of the book drop off and/or are less likely to sell and/or get remaindered, the eBook becomes more affordable because it's not cutting into sales any more. So if you put the eBook out at the same time as the hardcover - it should be priced high then but lower six months later and lower still two years later. (Not suggesting the price be dropped at those points, just that I'd expect different prices at those points.)
In another comment it was noted that the pricing scheme would drop the price over time, perhaps as low as $4. I'd snap up several books in eBook at $4 a pop...when they got there.