Ooh, gosh... I never intended it to be a watertight argument. I was expecting people to tear me to pieces and go "but.... but...!" I don't do watertight arguments. I do "on the other hand", or "one could argue that"... :-)

I agree with you about the issue of bands self publishing. Though how widespread is it? Has any band become really huge this way? Or is it that they aim to get just enough publicity this way for a record label to come forward, offer them a deal, and let them make "real" music - i.e. commerically released?