Maybe, but distributing it takes resources that will otherwise be redeployed if the profit is removed.

Everyone wants a free lunch...but someone, somewhere has to actually pay for the cost of the lunch. Unfortuantely too many people think that it is OK as long as it is someone else.

My pretty, bounded, large page rule book.

The check is in the mail!!
 

In order for IREFU2 to do one for you, you should say "the check is in the mail!! Oh yes, and actually send it. LOL!!

What is the cost of putting rules online?

Effectively nothing, since they don't even have to host it themselves - someone else certainly would.

And they can still sell rulebooks - after all, I get mine as part of my association dues, and would continue to do so. I imagine some chunk of my dues goes to them, right?

This has nothing to do with a "free lunch" and everything to do with being annoyed that the rules are not available in an easily accessible, searchable digital format.

Whatever they are getting from me for the printed books, I would be happy to pay for the rights to a digital copy, and they would actually make even more money, since it costs a lot more to print a book.

It has everything to do with a free lunch, due to the "information wants to be free" comments. And most people who are wanting the rules on line want them on line so they can access them for free.

The kicker is, they are available on line, just not for free, at the NFHS website. Of course, I have no idea how searchable it is.

Here in Utah, we pay the state association, and they automatically register us with NFHS. But, they don't set up electronic passwords for the NFHS site. Last year I asked if I could get one, the state coordinator emailed NFHS, and now I can get electronic rulebooks. All it took was asking, but I did have to ask.

The electronic rule book is a PDF, so you can search it with a good PDF reader. It comes in handy at test time, but most of the year I rely on the printed copy. It is also nice for posting rule excerpts to online forums.

I have an idea how searchable: very. They're downloadable PDF files, which are easy to search. They're also cut-and-paste-able. :D

Copy And Paste ???
 

I'm sure you meant to say copy-and-paste-able. I would hate to see sections of the rulebook disappear as NFHS members cut and paste.

Some rules have just got to go!
 

Hmmmm.

That might be worth a try.

The cost of printing and distribution is almost certainly their largest cost...but it is not their only cost.

And do you think that revenue stream would continue if they were freely available? Once they become freely available, their entire revenue stream will dry up.

Close, but not quite. Once they make them easily/freely available in a portable format, let the filesharing begin....The one person that pays would be doing so for 10 more.