Yep, for those companies that don't have e-distribution, ship sets could really take a bite at a line pilot's ability to stay current. I think a good leverage point would be the the POI using the pilot currency issue.

I've worked with ship sets in my fleet for about a year, and they work fine. However, I do have access to a full set of PDF files for both the F/H and the FOM (and other training materials). I bought an iPad and the combination of the PDF files and the e-reader makes a nice home-spun EFB. Of course there is the same problem I had with the hard copies - finding motivation to read them!