Self-Publishing Is Easy

I’ve heard some people say, and I have been told by others, that self-publishing is taking the easy way out.   Really?  Since when is it taking the easy way out?   In my opinion, both are equally hard.  Yes if you send your work to a publisher, you have to have an excellent piece of work for a publisher to consider even publishing it.   However, if you self-publish the work still has to be excellent or no one will bother to read your writing once you’ve published it.
Consider also that if you have it published by a publisher, you do not have to worry about advertising, book jackets, editing.  All those little other things are also important.  
If a self-publisher is going to succeed,
They must promote their books.
They must find unique book covers that grab attention.  People will not read a book with a boring cover.
They must often be able to edit their writing themselves.  They must also be accurate.  There can be no little oversights.
If you decide to send your work to a publisher, that is great!  But if you decide to self-publish do not ever let anyone tell you that you are taking the easy way out.  It is just not true.