Bravo Dick,
That is a great post.
I'll not be stopping for a break then! I've got to crack on with the writers endless work.

Some input that may be of interest.
I chose to go with a small publisher with my second and third book. They gave me a contract with much flexibility. My contract is for one year. If I renew the contract, I can then cancel it with a 90-day notice. In both cases, all rights return to me. And, they do a good job of editing.
Why do I feel this type of contract is good? I can utilize the feedback from readers to improve on the book and continue to seek an Agent if I choose to do so. From feedback I already have, I realize how I can improve the book and make it much, much better.