Will book publishers be able to maintain primacy as ebook publishers?

via www.idealog.com

My own thoughts:

Legacy publishers will survive to the extent that they can act as curators -- as "a good housekeeping sign of approval" (that probably dates me) that a book is worthy. They don't have to vouch for a book in any specific sense much less agree with its opinions -- but simply that the book is in some way "serious."

Of course that does leave room for others to get in on the curatorial role. We might see "imprints" from major, respected opinion leaders. Why not one by Bill Clinton? or Paul Krugman? or Stewart Brand?  Stephen King? etc etc or name anyone you respect.

Would such an eminence get into the nitty-gritty of editing, design, promotion, marketing etc etc? Probably not directly though their editorial judgment would be a real and key factor in the success of their "publishing company." So while figure-heads might work, I question their staying power.

My point is that once you get rid of physical books -- no responsibility to manufacture, warehouse, transport etc etc -- what is a publishing company besides 

1. the judgment that a "book" (whatever _that_ turns out to be) is worthy of being read, 

2. editing to take a raw manuscript into a finished ebook, and 

3. promoting/marketing.

Legacy publishers may be able to thrive -- counter-intuitively -- precisely because it is so easy to "self-publish." How do you, as a reader, separate the wheat from chaff? The curatorial function comes to the fore.