Anthony Watkinson under-estimates the extent of grass-roots academic support for open access and the extent to which academic leaders understand the advantages to research undertaken by their own institutions from the development of repositories or from publication in OA journals. Journals converting to an open access business model are doing so with support from their editors and authors. These changes in scholarly communication are very new and it is no surprise that many authors are still uncertain about the long-term effect upon their careers, but the evidence from the Key Perspectives surveys is that those who use open access publication routes are satisfied enough to use them again. A small sample can be just as valid as a large sample if the statistical structure is sound. Anthony's own sample quotation from the JISC "Delivery management and access" report is itself very selective and arguably not representative of the report as a whole. To answer Anthony's specific question: every university repository has been established because the university has heard from some of its staff that this would be a desirable development and, after looking at the costs and benefits, has concluded that this would be good for the university. Universities do not take decisions by popular vote but equally they do not commit resources unless they are convinced that a development will be good for research and teaching. Most universities wish to take decisions in consultation with their staff and in relation to repositories they are finding general support. Fred Friend JISC Consultant