Martin Garthwaite wrote:
You're certainly not crazy, I currently have no plans for an academic career when I finish my PhD, but I would challenge the concept of free labour. Surely publishing papers in respected journals is an investment in your career. Quality of papers not quantity I'm guessing is the goal for most?
This assumes that quality and open-access are inconsistent. Academics do not generally get paid for publishing papers in respected journals. Reviewers do not generally get paid for reviewing papers for respected journals. Both do get benefits, indirect but large. The question before us is not "is it ok to get paid?" The question is: "Can we find sustainable models for the publication and distribution of academic content that are also consistent with the ideals of free distribution and open access." I think the answer is not just yes, but a resounding yes.