Yeah, you really can't make money with rolegames. Too few customers. Well, you could if you would make another MTG or AD&D... Apparently Twilight 2000 sold pretty well since they made second edition of it. But with rolegame with book it could do the trick. And, of course there is possibility to try something new... Like distributing RPG in electronic format! If we're honest 70% of rulebook you read only once... Rest you need several times during game. Those pages could be printed easily by enduser if they are done informative and short (without pics, only scarts and sheets and base rules in easy format). What about copyprotection? Who need copyprotection? Just make it so cheap that people will want to support you. Plus when buying the game legally one could achieve characters, maps and other fancy stuff for free. Rules could be in pdf-format, for example.
If I'm right this is something that has done never before. I would gladly pay, let's say 5 € or 10 € for a good RPG... And if there were forum like this to support that RPG - just think how fans could help to create the world and hone rules! And those who have paid for game would get "benefactor" status in forum...
I think it would be cheap way to make profit if one would have enough faith for his product.
IF SOMEONE WANTS TO USE THIS IDEA, JUST USE IT!