The publishers can&#x27;t give up control of pricing. If a third-party gatekeeper gains enough traction they&#x27;ll control pricing, by making the market, and be able to sway the consumers choices. (Think iTunes with music or Amazon with book publishers.)<p>If publishers work with <i></i>any<i></i> micro-payment system they&#x27;ll be competing on a penny-per-article basis, and not be able to pressure users into paying $4&#x2F;mo for what&#x27;s mostly an unwanted product.