First, your book gets in front of actual readers, and you actually make some money on it, even if less than you spent in preparing it. (fantasy-faction.com)
For actual readers, it's much more important to have a few good reviews and some good editorial reviews from well known authors. (annerallen.com)
During that time, they could have been selling actual novels to actual readers who buy them with actual money. (susankayequinn.com)