Amazon holding back the explosion of ebooks

I have been in Cannes a week now. I have heard most of the languages of Europe spoken and plenty of voices from Eastern Europe too. Yet I have never seen anyone reading from a Kindle as yet (except me), on public transport, in cafes or on the beach. I was aware that the rise of the ebook is slower in Europe but I was still puzzled. The Germans embrace new technology. How come they haven't embraced ebooks? My books sell very well on Kindle in the UK and are doing very well on iTunes. They're slower in US and the recent launch of Kindle in Germany shows a few sales, but since the Germans love Scottish crime and my books are in translation there, how come the sales haven't happened?
Then David Gaughran followed me on Twitter and visiting his blog my eyes were suddenly opened. Having chatted on here about the opportunities that ebooks create in spreading the word, I suddenly discovered that Amazon are 'controlling' the word. This is an excellent article and I thank David for following me and enlightening me at the same time.
Read this and 'weep', or alternatively complain. http://tinyurl.com/6yubd66

Percentages

I am currently in Cannes, working on a new (crime) series set here in Le Suquet, the old fisher village on the hill. It reminds me a bit of the Old Town in Edinburgh with its winding cobbled streets. It does get more sunshine though. It's got me thinking how established authors should now publish their books. In the past everyone has chased the new contract, hopefully from well known publishing houses. But things have changed and will change even more. Does an author sign up to a contract that takes 25% (insert here whatever % you have been offered) of the ebook rights? And for how long? Two years of sales? Is that wise or even fair? Why should a publisher get 75% of a book's E-earnings when companies such as Amazon do all the work of promotion?
It seems that some publishers now don't take you on unless you have a twitter account, a blog, a fan base. If that is so, why would you, the writer give them 75% of all your earnings (after Amazon takes its percentage?) And to do what?
What worries me is from various conversations I've had with some well established writers, that publishers even want the e-book rights to your backlist, before considering 'managing' your new book. To sign up to that you would have to be mad!
But hey, the safety of a contract is what everyone wants, is it not? Regardless of the percentage...