Yes. Feedback from readers is important, not just an ego trip. Many times a reader review will include an observation that I, as the author, had not appreciated and this can become a creative spark in a new novel. This is true of both good and bad reviews - so really there are no good or bad reviews, just reader communication. However, the rating system that is becoming prevalent on Amazon of late is practically useless in this respect - the number of stars alone hardly communicates anything. It does leave the door wide open for trolls, however, to systematically place one star ratings on books anonymously which directly affects the overall book ranking.
The whole issue of book returns. Unfortunately, there are people who think they are 'sticking it to the man' (Amazon) when they buy an ebook, read it, don't bother leaving a review or leave a one star rating, then return the ebook within seven days for a full refund. Some of these people, and there are far more than I suspected, openly brag about having read the latest novels without spending a single cent. I'll be generous and say, they probably do not realize that 'the man' they hurt is the author, not Amazon, because the former does not receive any form of payment from Amazon, and the latter does not 'lose' a single cent. Writing, especially independently, costs the author money (Editing, Research, Translations, Marketing, Cover Design, ISBN registration, and a long etc), without taking in account the hundreds of hours spent developing and writing the story. If an author never receives any royalties because his books are being STOLEN (yes, that is the right word) by refund abusers, maybe they will decide the effort isn't worth the cost and stop writing. Yes, abusing refunds can shatter writer's illusions! Or think of it another way... it's a hot day, you stop to buy an ice cream... do you really think the vendor will refund your purchase a week later because you say you didn't like the flavor?
