Ebooks have made publishing much cheaper & easier. Self-publishing is becoming a respectable way to get the word out. People are less skeptical about the quality of the work.
I'm not a terrific fiction writer, so a lot of what's in my mysteries is nonfiction. For instance, the gruesome murder in the first chapter of "A Scandal at Crystalline" is an almost literal recount of an actual case.
I read them to pull quotes, which are great. Fortunately I've only had 2 or 3 bad ones. I appreciate reviews which help me to become a better writer, whether they are bad or good.