And like many small businesses, they have very little room for corporate-style waste. Now it is true that many small presses are non-profit organizations. But still there is often a higher degree of professionalism and realism evident than in the big houses. The independent presses I've dealt with have had a much more enlightened attitude about what should be, and can be, published. With corporate presses doing mega-blockbuster novels, celebrity sex bios and the latest fad diets, there's little room for innovation or original thinking.
Small presses can take a chance, and often do.
Editors in the independent presses are frequently drawn to the field because they're interest in innovation, non-normative views, unusual ways of seeing the world. I wouldn't put it that way. Often the money is better and there's somewhat less prestige associated with the independent presses. And their books get considerably less shelf-space in chain bookstores. It's a trade-off.