[Nahgem]

I can't speak for anyone else, but having the ability to carry hundreds of books at once was part of the appeal in buying an eReader.

You can do it with the non-rooted Nook, you just don't get much in the way of book organization (hence the complaints). You can sort by title/author only in the non B&N menu; the new update should be adding additional organization to the B&N menu, and possibly the ability to search the non B&N menu (hopes and prays).

I haven't rooted, but my understanding is that rooting combines the two menus into one, and includes folders for organization. Though, I also have read that newer Nooks can't be rooted.