The concept of having a page count that's a multiple of 16 originates from the era of offset printing. In the past, this practice was vital for efficient and cost-effective printing. However, the landscape of publishing has evolved significantly. Many independent authors no longer opt for offset printing due to its substantial costs and high minimum order requirements. These requirements often necessitate an upfront purchase of at least 2000 books, which can be impractical for many authors.
In the contemporary publishing world, most books are printed using Print-on-Demand technology. This approach employs technology similar to a laser printer, making it far more flexible in terms of page counts. In the Print-on-Demand system, used by Amazon's KDP or Ingram Spark, there is no strict need for page counts to be multiples of 16. This adaptability aligns with the needs and preferences of modern authors and the dynamic book printing industry.