fancy pants books is one way of looking at it, archival might be another.
I've had good luck with japanese side-bound books, even got a three year old to make one.
Once people have an introduction to the skill set, their own personal interest can make them want to learn more
'archival' binding methods.
check out the link to our zine books from debris (another thread on this tribe). The zine (staple bound)
teaches people to make coptic bound books from found and salvaged materials. Coptic books don't need to be fancy,
in fact most of the ones I make are from used clothing, recycled paper and often found materials.
Coptic methods have the advantage of being more intricate, so people who are trying to learn the craft can wrap their
head around a larger skill set.
I'm not knowcking staplebound, it has its uses, like mass-production, but realize that 'fancy-pants' books have their place too,
and there is a whole line of intermediate process like sidebound books.