This seems like a no-brainer, especially going to Lulu (or like) route, especially if you don't want to make money on it and you're more hesitant about the init

This seems like a no-brainer, especially going to Lulu (or like) route, especially if you don't want to make money on it and you're more hesitant about the initial capital cost to paying a printer for a few thousand copies. I'd give you more encouragement for self-publishing the 'dead tree in apartment' route if you had a proven audience of people already buying your merch (tho, if you're selling edw519 shirts, you're doing something very right).