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The only problem with the identifier method is the situation where someone replaces a new device without transferring the devide's ID to the new device from the old. Even at best, many people have not proven equal to doing this with new devices (usually there are so many such accounts, IDs, etc, that they are missed), and at worst, if the old device was lost/stolen/damaged, you might not be able to recover the ID from it.
This suggests using some sort of ID that is part of your personal ID info (like a social security number or driver's licence), that will not change, and is device independent. But then there are privacy concerns... you don't want just anybody to have your social security number.
So... a unique identifier, maybe a number randomly generated for you and then stored on a card, dongle, or database. But if you lose the card or dongle, or the database is corrupted or taken offline, you're locked out of your books.
About all that's left is a biometric identifier, like a fingerprint, that must be added to the e-book when bought and checked by the reader when you open it.
This would even accomplish the Big Pub's dream, by taking away the ability to loan the book to anyone else. But you also wouldn't be able to pass it down, gift it or resell it, alienating the consumer further. But it is by far the best way to secure a book.
Mind you, that depends on whether the e-book reader is designed to lock out the book unless the fingerprint is read, and I'm sure we all know someone will come up with a hack for that...
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