Bingo! The only book used in college courses that is worth the price is “Machinery's Handbook”. Contrary to the name,it isn't about machines. They are used every day on the job by everyone from engineers to carpenters. Over 2,500 pages of nothing but facts, figures, and formulas that cover everything. Even homeowners should have a copy in their library.
I noticed that 20 years ago, foreign students had purchased paperback versions of the hard cover textbooks we were required to buy. The paperback versions sold for 1/2 to 2/3 of the price of the hard cover books. Unfortunately, at that time, the textbook publishers would not permit the books to be sold in US college bookstores. The students bought their books before coming to the US.
I believe with the coming of Amazon.com US students have been able to purchase these paperback editions at substantial savings (much to the dismay of the college bookstores)
I’m in an inexpensive state run community college. The text books cost as much as the courses. All the professors “feel that they are not paid enough” so they take the easy way out. As mentioned in this thread, they use the pre-canned stuff and let their students be screwed.