Comment Re:Depends what you want... (Score 1) 445
This is the market at work. The effect of this activity is to lower prices to all. Movement of books from a less expensive channel to a more expensive channel equalizes the prices. The supply will be increased in the more expensive channel, tending to reduce the price. The essence of commerce is to find, obtain, or produce a good at a lower price than the market will bear.
When you think about the time that it takes to perform this function, the "value" of the time is determined by the person who expends the time. It was once famously remarked for Bill Gates at one point in his career, that if he dropped a $100 bill, it would not be worth his time to pick it up. Value is a function of supply, demand and desire. Water here in Indiana has a limited value. If I were in Death Valley, it would have a considerably larger value to me. Since folks are making money at this endeavor, they are making the personal determination that they can derive more value from the time used than spending it another way.
The intangibles are also a factor. I don't do this, but I like the smell of old books. I also love finding a gem such as a 1946 physics book on optical phenomenon. The hobby effect also cannot be discounted.
The bottom line is that the value determination is so complicated that it boils down to the question: "Does this have value to you?". As you have one life, and a limited number of hours (80x((365.25x24)-(365.25x8)) the only one who can make that choice is you.
(The above is a suggested calculation. You may not have 80 years, nor may you need 8 hours of sleep a night. Mileage may vary.)