Trying to read through all this. Wow. This keeps coming up: Discussing trends in an industry is part of being involved in a hobby. Criticizing trends that one finds troubling or harmful is not just reasonable, it is important and necessary. It creates discussion that, if it is valid, spreads and can even (yes, really) bring about change.
This forum has a tendency to dismiss any such criticism with "then shut up and don't buy it." It is never beneficial to shut down controversial opinions that way. If you do, then the comments section is irrelevant - it could just be replaced with a 'like' icon.
Thank-you. I have ran into this problem many times on these forums when I bring up an opposing view point. I do have an issue with the way the map was handled. It's obviously not a popular comment here. Mike's map looks amazing. He does beyond stellar work (I bought his City of Greyhawk 3.5 map.) Got it printed off at my local Office Max for $20. So total it cost me $30. To get the map I need for the new Forgotten Realms book, it's going to cost around $80! ($40 for the book, $10 for the digital pack, and $30 to print it off at size 24x36 at the same Office Max.) In comparison, The Inner Sea World Guide is $50. You get the book with a pretty detailed, (I'll admit, not complete) description of every area of The Inner Sea region. There is also a gorgeous, high-quality, map attached to the back. It's beautiful.
A couple years ago, Paizo explained on their website the reason they had to increase the prices on their Adventure Path books from 19.99 to 24.99. (printing costs, ink costs, etc.) They were open and honest, and explained that instead of cutting back on quality, they decided to increase the cost. Their honesty was understood and accepted by the Paizo community. The Adventure Paths continue to be a hot seller for them.
Everyone here likes to rip on Paizo quite a bit. Yet WoTC adopted many of the practices that have made Pathfinder successful. $50 for the core books, (Pathfinder's Core Rulebook is $50, but it's a PHB and DMG in one book,) having Wizkids make the minis, open play-test, emphasis on story, etc. What is so wrong with using map packs like Paizo? They let Sovereign Press release the Tasselhoff Map Pouches for 3.5 Dragonlance. This would work great for this new Forgotten Realms book.
Sadly, with the way WoTC is trickling out products these days ..... I will have to buy this Sword Coast book, (because I no longer have time to write my own campaign,) and will have to get Mike's Digital Map and have Office Max print it in the size I want, (because the size I want, I can't afford $136 for it.)
And what is really crushing to me, is that I prefer Greyhawk, but since FR is all that matters, and it's all that is available .... because of my limited prep time ..... I'm going to have to buy it, and WoTC is going to take it as it's what I want.
I agree with you, there should just be a like button.