I think anyone that tries to compare a paper product to a pdf is missing the point. You can't compare them. It's apples against oranges. Both fit a specific purpose. Paper has the advantage of having been around for a very long time and, as such, has a better following and familiarity. Pdfs will never be mainstream, even among gamers because the majority do not have internet access or are not aware of the existence of gaming pdf files. Shocking, isn't it?
I actually like both formats. I like to be able to pick up and read a book. But I also like to be able to search a pdf and print out only the parts I need for gaming purposes. There are things a pdf can do that a print product cannot. Just look at Dire Kobold for a good example. The technology involved with pdfs is improving and it is only a matter of time until pdfs can do some really cool things that are only being talked about today. Once that happens, I think pdfs will gain more acceptance than they have now. Today, most people just look at a pdf as though it is an electronic document to be read like Word, which is really missing the point regarding the versatility of pdfs.
And for the record, there are some damn professional looking and high quality amateur pdfs out there (Deep Magic immediately comes to mind) that I would match against some of the best professional stuff. Equally, there are some "professional" pdfs whose layout, form and quality are so bad that they would qualify for a "golden turkey" award (and I won't name those).
