I attended a panel on writing and one thing stuck in my mind. When asked about the issue of piracy and the ease of copying on the internet, someone replied that as an author, he wasn't concerned with piracy as much as obscurity. Especially for those who haven't 'made' it yet, the small amount of money that is made is peanuts compared with the 'free' publicity.
The idea is to build a fan base first. Once people find they love your work, they will be much more inclined to buy your other books. Readers as a group, tend to be loyal to the authors they love. They will shell out the money in order to read more from that author.
