if you haven't kept up with cory lately, he does a nice little history review here:

http://www.locusmag.com/Perspectives/2009/09/cory-doctorow-special-pleading.... money quote:

I don't give away downloads because I'm just a swell guy -- I do it because I'm a self-employed entrepreneur who needs to make as much as he can to support his family.

in other words, a free online copy doesn't _cost_ him money, it _makes_ him money. -bowerbird