The thing is that what professional authors working with legitimate publishers make from a book has nothing to do with the demanded funds to complete the project. It should be only based on the value delivered by the project.
Not really sure what this comment is trying to demonstrate.
Using what actual published authors make on book deals is a good way to estimate what the value of such an initiative should be.
Maybe a lot of people will be interested in the project and fund it, then great. But publishers investigate the market thoroughly before signing a deal with an author, and they offer advances and royalties based on what they think the book will make. When an author received a $7,500 royalties advance on a book it's because the publisher thinks this is a good indicator of what the book will generate in royalties.
