I wish we were more like the UK.. there the hardcover, trade and paperback editions all ship at the same time unlike here where you might have to wait a year for the paperback.
I'm in the UK and I don't think that's generally true. You usually have to wait quite a while for the paperback to be released after the hardback is out. Sometimes a year. A pain sometimes but usually something I don't mind living with, as I am never short of things to read. And if the book is good, I might buy the hardback.
I've never known it to be true. The industry staggers the editions - i.e. makes readers wait - precisely because there are much bigger margins on hardbacks and trade paperbacks, so they sell first to the enthusiasts and fans who must have the latest X now, and/or want a collectable.
