Dennis:
You are bang on regarding the demands of business and the overriding responsibility of corporate captains. Am hopeful that may desires and their goals are convergent. As you said, time will tell.
Personally, I love my Reader 500. If there was a way to insert a wifi dongle, some mini-USB device to snatch texts from the library here at MobileRead or CONNECT, that would be awesome, but it would most likely lead to an even more financially strapped Old One.
Every chance I get, I sing the praises of this device. If I didn't think a friend was too prideful, I'd probably order one for him, just so he could spread the gospel and we could geek out together. Maybe the next time there's a super-amazing deal, I'll do just that.
As for iTunes, that loss leader comment wasn't an original thought.
http://Many influential people think...ur_99c_belong/
At least, that was the case five years ago. If things have changed, I would like to think that it proves my point.