OK, try this. If you mark it priced by attributes, "DON'T" put a price on the product.. Instead put it on the attributes...That should work for you.
Is this how you would advise me to handle stuff on my bookstore too? I have books with paperback and hardcover editions, each of which is differently priced. I have been wondering how to set the two different prices.

Assuming the above works, will all the other features work too- that is, if a customer chose 6 copies of the hard cover edition of a book, will the cart automatically calculate 6 x the price of the hard cover edition defined in the attribute?

Thanks,
meeven