It’s also cheating, and it robs the hypothetical author of the true publishing experience.  As any author will tell you, the process of writing a successful book is only about 30% writing.  There’s the submission/rejection process, which we’re not supposed to take personally, but each rejection still chips away at the writer’s soul.  Once that acceptance letter does finally arrive, there’s the knock-down-drag-out battle that the author will inevitably have with their editor, who will likely become a trusted friend, if the two are able to keep themselves from killing each other.  There’s the formatting combat, which involves arguing about the font size, the word count, the cover picture, and countless other factors, and that’s all before the book even hits the market.  Once it hits the market, there’s a whole different set of complications.  However, once it’s on the market, there’s another property that makes all of the suffering they’ve gone through worthwhile: they’ve published a book.  Not only has their book been published, but people who aren’t just family and friends believe in them, and they want them to succeed.  They have fans and readers who want to know when their next book is being released.  Bookstores will want them to come in and talk to their customers, coffee shops will fill up with people who want to talk about their work, and opportunities will come.  Once a publisher releases a book, it’s in their best interest that the book sell, and they’ll do whatever they can to make sure that happens.  This is what an author wants.  

I’m not suggesting that self-publishing is bad.  I have a few short stories on Amazon that I released through KDP.  I’m simply suggesting that, by submitting to self-publishing, a writer does their craft a disservice.  You’ve worked long and hard on your piece of art.  Doesn’t it deserve to be treated with respect?