Emil O W Kirkegaard

I agree that's true for some parts including the surrounding culture, but for the dissemination of textbooks, I *do* think it's easier.

But I'd like to hear your argument, you obviously have more experience with textbooks ;) I literally needed 0 textbooks for my studies.>

Profs provided everything on slides plus made assigned readings available. Textbooks were recommended, but never considered a necessity.>

Which I think is a very reasonable solution, because textbooks *do* have an added value but spending lots of €€€/$$$ shouldn't be mandatory.

I have a website of free materials, but I think it's ok to be compensated for what I spend my evenings, weekends and unpaid leave doing

I actually totally agree with that! Yet you don't force your students to buy the book, which is the way it's supposed to be imho

Maybe a misunderstanding - I don't think textbooks *need* to be free, but materials students must have to follow lecture should be free

But studying isn't free. Tuition fee alone is €2K (and much more elsewhere). The book I'm using costs €40, that is affordable