sure beats the industrial/state prison feel of some public schools in the U.S.

If prices were forced to remain the same throughout the market, wouldn't that help big box bookstores since they could still carry a greater number of titles? Variety becomes the focus of their sales strategy rather than pricing.

On the other hand, without price fixing, I think there would still be a market for small publishers and there would be a higher demand for specialized bookstores as demonstrated by the Long Tail effect, no?

"just a tactic?"

What's with the accusatory tone? what is this? High School? Are people getting mad at the fact they paid and now they will end up paying more for an actual CD? Even though it was up to them?

You have to give Radiohead a lot of credit for stepping up. Luckily for them they'll reap a solid profit from it cuz things won't not be this good next time around now that these tactics have been exposed. Tough luck NIN, Oasis, Jamiroquai, et al.