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I tried reading by the K3 light alone for a couple of weeks when I first got it. I mostly read myself to sleep at night. It seemed to me that I was taking forever to get through Eddisons' The Worm Ouroboros, so I turned the lamp on beside my bed and the difference was incredible. I literally get through twice as many pages in a typical night now, which tells me just how much I was straining to read by the Kindle's little light. It's good in a pinch, but I sure wouldn't want to read by that light all the time.
The cover is tough enough to protect the unit. No one would argue that. But it's just inexpensive artificial leather on cardboard w/ a tiny 3-bulb LED light. I don't see anything to justify the price of this thing. There can't be more than $5 worth of materials here, and they sell it for $65. It also adds to the weight considerably. If you're lying on your back reading while holding the Kindle out in front of you like I do, you'll find yourself switching hands constantly. But the good thing about the case is that it makes the Kindle thick enough to hold. Without a case it feels like a flimsy piece of shale tile.
If I had it to do over I would like to try out the Color Nook with the back-light. Unfortunately, I held one in my hand once (it wasn't turned on) and noticed that it was probably as heavy as the Kindle w/ lighted case. Anyway, it's much heavier than the B&W Nook. But at least the light would be even. The Nook feels just about the same thickness as a small paperback and is much better to hold. But then you have the problem of a lousy touch-screen.
Personally, I don't think there's a single e-reader out there that's made very well. None of them are designed with ergonomics in mind. You're constantly bumping into buttons and there's absolutely no place to put your thumb if you're on your back in bed (effectively holding it upside down) and need your thumb in the middle to balance the unit. I'm still waiting for somebody to do this right.
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