I'm not going to argue your "facts". I'll take your word for it. While you seem to be content with how things work, I am not.
You say new editions cost less than old editions. I say there is no reason for the new editions to exist unless they are so out of date they can't be used for teaching anymore.
You say text books cost a lot to write and publish. I say they should keep rewriting them when all they need to do is send out companion updates.
We do agree on one thing, high lever classes shouldn't use textbooks. I'll go one further, most classes don't need text books. We don't really need math books. We just need good teachers/professors and printouts. Classes that require heavy reading like History and biology need textbooks but history shouldn't be revised as much as it is and even though new theories and new discoveries add to science they don't fundamentally change their respective areas of study so much that a handout from a professor couldn't correct.
I want to apologies for calling you a contrarian. I still find it flabbergasting that anyone can defend the price of textbooks or educations in general. The cost of a degree shouldn't put a person in debt for the rest of their life.
