Klebnor

Quote - ...

  Providing boxes and manuals is a high cost strategy in an age where electronic delivery of software is accelerating, and the marginal unit cost of delivery approaches zero.  This choice is up to the manufacturer.  I personally do not want to pay for a manual which will sit on a shelf (when a searchable PDF is available), nor do I want precious financial resources spent on such production, printing, handling and mailing.

Valid points about the cost.
NON-valid point about the "Choice".

YOU  don't want to pay for a manual. That's YOUR choice.
I TOO want a choice. That's all I asked for.

They can charge me more, and I'll pay it, or they can CHOOSE not to.

WE all have choices. If I can't live with theirs.
They can live without mine.

No hard copy...no sale.