Well, if I were to publish a book, I would first get professional opinions on the quality of the book, then decide which route to take:
If it was a super incredible read about a Harry Jacob or say an Edward Potter... then I would self-publish and receive 100% of the proceeds from sales, which would cover the publishing, printing, and distribution costs easily. There would be more risk but with this wizard-vampire I have created, there would potentially be more reward.
If it was an okay book about growing up with phonies that high school kids have to read... then I would get it professionally published. There would always be royalty checks coming in as a steady income, and I could sleep at night not worried about where my next medium to small paycheck, to buy more ink for my typewriter, was going to come from.
If it was a crazy, new, and different story about a few men that travel in space and return to a world that is ruled by apes... then I would skip print and move to the future and publish it online. This would allow for limitless distribution and potentially the most future profit (unless the apes take over).
