Elsevier's business model was valid in the 1990s and 2000s when most people used paper. Unfortunately the world has changed but their business model hasn't.
In no way defending real estate agents, but people have been predicting that the Internet would obsolete their business model since the Clinton administration. It's yet to happen, and arguably they have more of a hold on real estate transactions than they did previously. The web never disrupted their business model, sadly
It's reminiscent of Real Estate agents.