Show HN: I built a site that finds the cheapest place to buy a book
Is "cheapest" the right objective? Because if that's the case, book piracy seems like the clear winner.<p>But maybe we should consider "cheapest with some boundaries". For instance, we probably agree that bookstores are nice for a myriad of reasons, even if we don't frequent them. They employ people in the area, they offer curation and recommendations, they invite speakers and host events, and they help local authors get started. They may offer benefits or profit sharing.<p>But a physical space like that costs money. Experience costs money. Curation costs money (indirectly).<p>I'd argue that cheapest as a metric undercuts <i>best</i> as a metric. Cheap is one important input to the purchasing decision, but it shouldn't be the only one.<p>We have to learn to accept some inefficiencies and some personal inconveniences for the sake of a healthier social ecosystem.