a) I don't know if you're referring to BooksOnBoard or Cybooks, but my experience with both has been extremely positive. BooksOnBoard responds to emails quickly and they're very helpful. My Cybook battery lasts for more than a week and I can read books on it (which is what I bought it for) so reliable.
b) I bought the
2-year Cybook accidental damage plan because I thought it would be worth it. I haven't had to use it yet, but in one of the other forums a member said that their screen broke and the manufacturer did not cover it, so they had to pay 120 euros for a new screen. So the $60 damage plan would have been well worth it in that instance.
c) I picked mine for the same reason. I don't know of any other dedicated ebook readers in this price range that have eInk screens and accept books from a variety of vendors. I may be forgetting some though.
Overall, I'm quite happy with my Cybook
.