As mentioned earlier, I have no intention of getting into a back and forth exchange, nor can anyone make me say something to defend PA. That said, I will point out that PA books were of excellent quality when Lightning Source did all their work. My two copies as well as the few I have seen by other writers were top grade. From what I've heard (I cannot vouch for this) PA now does much or all of its own printing. If true, that could be the problem. I have not seen any recent books.
Queen, perhaps you missed the point I was making about contracts. I have to speak about the past here, having had no recent contact with PA, but what was stated in my contract was exactly what happened. I was addressing someone who did not read their contract or skipped over such words as "available." For that there is no excuse, but perhaps I was too blunt for your liking. I did lose patience with people who wrote such things as "I think my contract said . . ." Apparently they did not file their contract or wouldn't take time to get it out and read it.
An example that writers do have a variety of problems with publishers can be found in a writer well-known in the mystery field (a protege of one half of the Ellery Queen writing team) recently going from Charles Scribner's Sons to PA. If possible, read some of the things discussed in MWA publications for numerous examples. It has always been a tough business at the mainline level and is more so than ever today. Stephen King, Mary Higgins Clark and some others have smooth sailing, many do not. As I am not sure who you are and therefore am unfamiliar with your work, I cannot speak for you. Hopefully you, too, are having smooth sailing. Not everyone is, as emails from many writers I know attest. For you to say that telling a novice that all writers have problems is not fair is a bit over the top. A recent article in MWA's "Third Degree" told of James Lee Burke receiving 111 rejections before selling his first book. That certainly qualifies as having problems. A mystery magazine that always had eight new stories a month now has cut back to six and usually one of those is by a deceased writer. That's a problem for me. If you are fortunate enough not to have any, that's wonderful. You are in select company.
Yes, I indeed am blunt. However, I do not lie, as you imply.