[Throxx]

I am aware of the publisher's policy. I purposely addressed it to the authors. It is clearly the authors' choice, as you point out, again.

Would the authors be better served, in the long run, by having all of a multipart article on line at the same time, or should the reader just "pick up in the middle"? Is this the best way for developing authors to communicate clearly and build an audience?

An author could cede rights until a reasonable period after the conclusion of a multipart article e.g three months, it need not be on the net in perpetuity.

As a publisher would you really tell an author, "If only parts 1 and 2 of your last article were not on the net today (but won't be 90 days from now), I could do do a book of the previous twenty five. Sorry."