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I am slightly apprehensive about this announcement as I see it as risking a route of creating a paywalled, DRM'd to the hilt, approach to purchased content that adds little in the way of value beyond what is possible with existing technology.

Digital reader

* Decently formatted and tagged PDF can do all this
* All my content can be available wherever I want anyway
* Would I be renting access to a 'book' or would it be available for me to download and keep forever?

Compendium

* Good indexing in PDFs or Foundry modules achieves the same things
* Again, is this a rent for access?
* If I buy the book in Unbound reader do I gain access in compendium?
* Is this just a fancy search engine?

Character tools

* Erhm... totally FoundryVTT

Trying to see positives in this but I am struggling to see any benefits in the short-term, and am suspicious that this would simply lead to more monitization in the long-term.

I guess a key question for me is does this represent a long-term shift away from developing and maintaining FoundryVTT modules?

I am slightly apprehensive about this announcement as I see it as risking a route of creating a paywalled, DRM'd to the hilt, approach to purchased content that adds little in the way of value beyond what is possible with existing technology.

I understand the apprehension given how many companies are treating digital goods in the world today, but this is a different situation. Unbound provides a digital toolset and companion that is a new offering intended to enhance the existing books and play experience, but the physical books and all of what is currently in place with Foundry, etc. aren't going away. Unbound also provides PDF access on top of the digitals tools, so it's not locking anything into those.

For the fans that find value in using Unbound, it's there, but if you and your group are happy with everything you have had available to this point, then Unbound might not be for you and you can keep going with it.

I guess a key question for me is does this represent a long-term shift away from developing and maintaining FoundryVTT modules?

No, not at all.