FREE Digital Copy with Print Versions

[Recrewt]

I think the 2000ad staff should do a load of work and incur costs for something to will reward readers who have already paid for something else! 

Yeah, I can't really see Rebellion releasing vast quantities of old material digitally just because you have bought some more recent stuff.  I also think that including a free digital copy with the Prog would be nice but would ultimately lead to them having to increase the price.   

[IndigoPrime]

Yep. In fact, very few niche titles offer digital for free, and even some of those that once did have stopped doing so (such as .net). Some offer a discount if you take up both (like MacUser), but then that's somewhat reliant on systems already being in place and also causes problems for something like 2000 AD that's trying to push itself across multiple platforms. (e.g. if someone's subscribed via Newsstand, you can't suddenly discount them if they take out a print sub.)

As for back progs, beyond the legal issues, it's something for nothing, and that makes no good business sense. I'd sooner see Rebellion continue to curate its offerings, compiling stories and selling those wherever it can.