People are missing the point on this. The Justice Dept. is saying that the publishers colluded with Apple to fix prices. Which is illegal. Three publishers have already settled, so I'm guessing there is some truth to this accusation. It doesn't matter "why" they did it. IT IS ILLEGAL.
I'll take my money to the corporations who think that customer satisfaction and not screwing me over are the best way to get my money. Apple makes no qualms about screwing me over when it suits them for the short-term - and so I don't give them my money. There's nothing wrong with wanting to make money, but treating me like I'm a sucker is not going to get my business.
Here's a terrible secret: those publishers probably didn't like you sharing their printed books, photocopying their pages, or reselling them to used bookstores either.
Just ask Google.
eBooks should retail for 99 cents - half of the money should go directly to the author.
The bottom line is all Portals are Doomed.
Try and do something...one thing really well...like Caine and his Arcade...and succeed on the Web.
Try and do everything and charge a toll, and people will cut around you.