What you're saying directly contradicts the professor's own statement:
> Please do not ask me for solutions. With very rare exceptions, I will say no, even if you are an instructor. I recognize that my stance limits the utility of these materials, especially for self-learners, but I'm trying to optimize the learning experience of my own students at Illinois. The point of homework is not to solve that particular homework problem, but to practice solving a type of problem and get honest feedback on your progress. I've found that when solutions are available, my own students are much more likely to rely on them, rather than trying to figure out the problems themselves, which means they get both less practice and less honest feedback, which means they do worse on exams and in the course overall.
> And while I firmly believe that each student is ultimately responsible for their own learning, I also believe that it's my responsibility as an instructor to help them. Putting dessert on the table does not help anyone eat their vegetables.
tl;dr: students tend to rely on solutions when they are available, they don't learn as much and get worse grades which reflects badly on him.
It has _nothing_ to do with a tradeoff of writing simpler explanations for a more printable guide. He even acknowledges that it limits the utility for self-learners, which you disagree. He's a professor with obligations to his students so I understand his decision, just sucks that an amazing book won't be more accessible to people.
