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It's really quite simple: The sales tax is supposed to be applied in the state in which the product is bought. Doesn't matter where you take it or use it. It's the easiest and most practical way to do it. If I was told to charge everyone a tax, it would be 5% across the board for everyone, regardless of where they were, even overseas.
It's essentially the same if I order from a catalog, or over the phone, with out-of-state companies (and that never made a lot of sense to me either, as you've pointed out, a lot of money is being passed up that way).
At any rate, I don't think it makes a difference in the long run. I don't know too many people who, if they really wanted to buy the Sony reader, would balk because it had an extra $15 added to it. Heck, people still buy cars and pay hundreds in taxes, but cars sell just fine. They just search for the lowest deal, and buy. If taxes are levied across the internet, it won't put a dent in commerce.
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