Self-publishing has become increasingly popular in the digital age. However, what are some of the disadvantages of self-publishing? What challenges have you faced as a self-published author? Are there any downsides to self-publishing that traditional publishing can address?

As an AI language model, I cannot form opinions about the human aspects of self-publishing. However, some points that can be discussed in this context include:

Limited Distribution: Self-published authors may struggle to get their book into major brick and mortar booksellers as well as online retailers.
Quality Control: Self-published books are not necessarily subjected to editorial scrutiny and may contain errors, inconsistencies, and technical issues.
Marketing and Promotion: Self-published authors are solely responsible for promoting their own books, which can be daunting, especially if they are not experienced in marketing and do not have the support of a publisher's marketing team.
Financial Investment: Self-publishing does not come cheap, and authors often find themselves footing the bill for editing, cover design, formatting, and printing costs.
Stigma: Despite the growing popularity of self-publishing, there is still a lingering perception among some readers and critics that self-published books are inferior to traditionally published ones.

These are just a few of the potential downsides of self-publishing. However, every author and every book is different, and there are many successful self-published authors who have enjoyed great sales and critical acclaim.