Reader Mail: Untouched Experiment

I got this question last week and I've been trying to think of how best to respond.  It's a tricky question: "Have you thought about trying conventional publishing, so you can compare your experiences with your DIY method?"

It's a complicated question.  The easy answer is yes, yes I have thought about it.  But the execution is where I get stuck, because it's a big mess of philosophical quandaries and practical concerns.  I'll try and explain my thinking, so you don't think I'm making the...