This is years later now, but I had signed with Black Opal about the time of these previous last posts on this string. I have two titles published with Black Opal and both were heavily edited. Yes, the books are printed by Amazon for print copies and marketed on that basis and in ebook formats including Nook 1st B&N. I have a third book in the queue for editing to be released in October. All are conspiracy type thrillers, but the the second one released a year ago is a love story and part science fiction.
About 18 months ago I was in a contact with a younger author with high sales as a self published guy with fantasy/science fiction books series. He thought it was great I had a traditional publisher until he realized I was with a Create Space based publisher who was "ripping me off of royalties" .... instead of me doing my own pubishing on Amazon. I explained I do get editing, with a wait, and cover art done. He pays for his editing and cover art.
Yes, marketing is a learning experience that has evolved over the past ten years ..... (actually past 25 years), and there are lots of modes and pros and cons.
I don't recall being required to do anything with their website. I do remember there was problems with some of their page links.
I am not happy about my sales, but that has improved this past year. No publisher seems to release sales data. I am not sure what Amazon's ranking numbers mean either.
I had a previous Lightning Source print only novel out with an author mill publisher in 2006 and outrageous 7 year contract. A second ebook only novel in 2009 was with a Toronto publisher, and went nowhere. That book became my first book with Black Opal ..... and was heavily revised.
With or after three books (includes the up coming October 2017 title) with Black Opal, Am considering a new avenue with my fifth book. I read there are 700,000 self published out there. So, to me, it's all a crap shoot .... like starving artists and garage bands.