There's something that happens to publishers, and I can't blame them for the axiology, it's something that I have to be realistic as they fail in profits.
It's the opportunism and the perverse incentives that follow along with such a race-to-the-bottom, no surprise. The only clarity I get from these decisions that they want to be paid excessively well, beyond magnitude.
Beware of that type of person who will act sycophantic and then not move towards the self-care cost-of-living when it matters. That's the story we all live with. Only one story, though, others not reductionist.
When an indie publisher asks for a delivery of an audience with no strings attached (Or aren't they? Check the contract.) It's a gate keep for the right reasons, a question of utility that's made, sadly dreams aren't meant to be accurate, it's the antithesis to the accurate in order for them to work. It's the obligation of what is made afterwards and then onwards.
Sometimes the ruthlessness is not a negative aspect. Better consistent than a that. Using to whatever passion of belief system to serve happy amateurism.