Yeah, I agree that JNC's editing and translation style is much more polished, and the existing english text would probably need some adjustments to work as a proper ebook. But I don't think that's an insurmountable obstacle. Lord of Mysteries, for example, started as a web novel and has since received print editions, including paperback and hardcover releases in different countries. So I don't think the transition from a web novel to a traditionally published book is impossible.
I personally like J-Novel Club more than any other publisher I've tried. One of the biggest reasons is that I can download the ebooks I've purchased and keep them permanently, even if the platform itself ever shuts down. That's something I really value as a reader.
That said, I do think JNC is missing out on a lot of potentially successful titles simply because they aren't Japanese. There are so many fascinating Korean and Chinese novels that I would love to see in their catalogue.
I'd genuinely prefer to spend my money on JNC releases, but at the end of the day, I'm going to invest in stories that interest me, regardless of where they come from... even if the translation is absolute garbage and the text is barely readable. :(
And you're right that Tapas' chapter-unlocking model wasn't ideal. But I still spent my money on it because I wanted to support the stories I love. Now I'm facing the reality of losing access to all of them, despite having paid for them.
Also, Debut or Die! has already received physical book releases in Chinese, Thai, and Russian. That makes me hopeful that an official English-language edition could be possible, too. (After kakao will leave the NA market) Of course, I don't know what the author's or publisher's licensing arrangements look like, but at least the series has already made the transition from a web novel to print in other markets.
