They are not treating books as though they have no value; quite the opposite. The way they sell things allows each individual to acknowledge the value the item has for them, and to pay as much for that value as they can afford.
It allows people from every economic status to have access to the piece of culture represented by these books, and to contribute what they can afford to the authors.
Humble Bundle recognizes that culture restricted to segments of the population capable of paying an arbitrarily set price is not shared culture. The value of something is not set by a pricetag.
(Also, I am even more confused now how you can simultaneously think they are treating books poorly by allowing consumers to pay what they can, and also be disappointed that the books do not have more permissive licensing...)
It allows people from every economic status to have access to the piece of culture represented by these books, and to contribute what they can afford to the authors.
Humble Bundle recognizes that culture restricted to segments of the population capable of paying an arbitrarily set price is not shared culture. The value of something is not set by a pricetag.
(Also, I am even more confused now how you can simultaneously think they are treating books poorly by allowing consumers to pay what they can, and also be disappointed that the books do not have more permissive licensing...)