Well, many WalMart shoppers don't exactly represent a higher end intellectual market so that response doesn't surprise me. I love to read and do shop at WalMart, but have never considered buying books or many electronics there - just groceries and "stuff" so I wonder how many people have a similar mindset?
The library branch closest to me is one of the larger ones in our county system and has a good sized parking lot. From when it opens at 10am until at least 6pm or so (it closes 9pm Monday to Thursday) it is hard to get a parking space and people often park on the surrounding streets. I think that is a better indicator of people wanting to read.
This time around Sony is simply having a little more trouble getting stock levels of the new models built up. They also have added a few more countries to the list of ones where they officially sell the unit. I wonder if needed inventory levels were underestimated a bit? Many of the retailers near me are still trying to sell off the 300 and 600 models (they started too late) and I don't expect to see many of the new ones out until that happens.