> It really feels like Amazon is the bad guy in this situation though. They've demanded terms from Hachette, then lashed out by slowing, then ceasing entirely, sales of Hachette's books

Aren't they doing a standard renegotiation of their contract? If they don't have a contract, Amazon is under no obligation to sell Hachette's products at all. Meanwhile, I wasn't in the room for their contract negotiation, but who's to say that Hachette isn't the one making unreasonable demands?