Overnight, Authonomy site administrators posted a response to the criticism on the forum:
This will be another free feature of the site. It certainly isn’t about exploitation. It won’t be compulsory. It is part of the authonomy toolkit. Like forums, messaging, RSS feeds, watchlists etc., we won’t be forcing anyone to use these features, but if you want to, then they’ll be there. For you.
My initial thought is that if HarperCollins really are introducing the POD option simply as another feature of the site which adds value for its members, why bother to go to the expense and effort of building your own solution? Why not simply partner with an existing service, such as lulu.com, which is bound to be more efficient and less costly?
Kate Eltham is a writer and creative industries professional based in Brisbane, Australia. She is Chief Executive Officer of 
kate.eltham {at} gmail.com
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That was kind of a half-answer. In the end their only option will be to pick a manuscript, publish it and give it the full HarperCollins PR boost. They need to make one of the author’s in there rich and famous. Then they will be rocking. Lulu paid me again just yesterday, money for writing yayayaya.
I use Lulu and am satisfied with their product. There are probably cheaper options, however, and it took a while for me to sort out the technical problems. But POD is not my publication mode of choice. Most of my readers prefer the various e-formats, including PDF, and really appreciate podcasts. I only issued a POD edition of MORTAL GHOST at reader request but I will be using the format for my beta readers of my new novel CORVUS, soon to be serialised online, since most of them prefer a hardcopy to critique.
Again, it’s really about the writing!
You are really hitting the mark here Kate!
If I was to wade into Authonomy it would be to attract the eye of HC and get them to do a full bells-and-whistles number on my ms.
The idea that *all* manuscripts on the site will be available as POD downloads would be a disincentive, because I’d want HC editors to give my ms a go-over before it was published.
I considered self-publishing at one point but in the end decided against it because I couldn’t afford professional editing and, no matter how good your writing is, I don’t think you can ever have sufficient distance from your own work to do a top-quality edit. (Well, I can’t — I guess some people can).
Great summary! I’ve blogged about this myself. I’ll be keeping an eye on Authonomy – though for what, I’m not quite sure.