Answer: No.
Although the paperbacks do tend to help writers as it mind fucks with the reader to create the bogus perception that the writer is more legitimate than if just writing to the digital market, the answer is still no. I don’t play that game.
It may also help by creating a secondary way the reader may find the book in search. Still. The answer is no.
But why not?
Because I am a stubborn ass and the professional perception aside created by the paperbacks, the paperbacks cost the readers too much money and offer too little potential profit for me beyond helping me to sell digital copies of my book.
Also, we indie writers already have a multitude of ways we don’t make money. Providing a paperback that may be sold 10 times plus–or whatever the velocity of a given paperback might be–without me making a dime from from each sale, is not on my to do list. On the other hand I love making money from other people’s used books. Yes. I do. 🙂
With my websites and my eBooks I am about creating digital content. I am not ashamed of that. It is part of what I do. I just wish I could make more money doing it.
If I saw paperbacks as a way to increase that revenue stream, I would be doing it. I certainly wouldn’t be ashamed of being a paperback writer any more than I am ashamed of being a digital writer. I have considered it. My ego has desired the thought in thinking it might mean more respect. I just don’t see the profit potential. If you do and are making money from it: cool.