You are attributing profitability to the industry being "owned by people who were good at publishing" rather than a large variety of things like a rapid and mas

You are attributing profitability to the industry being "owned by people who were good at publishing" rather than a large variety of things like a rapid and massive increase in the entertainment options available to the average person. Most people do not read for pleasure often. Those who do will most often read hits. Those who read outside of that are a very small portion of the population.