I have to agree. The book I'm slowly getting through Lulu, I estimate would make me around £3 per copy (£2.90 going to Lulu, so based upon a £6 retail price). I'm already resigned to giving up six copies to the british library (£36) and my website will cost £165 for development and set up with a further few quid each month for hosting/registration. If i throw in other expenses that all writers suffer, I'm already facing the prospect of being around £1,500 out of pocket before I even sell my first copy...
With making just £3 per book, I have to sell 500 to break even. If i sell via these people (with them taking 25% commission -around £1.50 per book) I would have to sell 1000 copies to just break even, and closer to 1100 with their fees.
It's possible that POD books sell those numbers, but I fail to believe they could possibly deliver that sort of customer base to me...