Since I've already done the research I might as well share the results:
This topic on the Russian forum is dedicated to screen attachment details in various devices and lists the best and worst: PB 301 has the most frequent returns due to screen problems, Sony and Kindle - the least frequent (the author is a service person).
http://www.the-ebook.org/forum/viewt...tak+pocketbook
PB 301 at that time (last year) had the flimsiest design - maybe that's why it has been discontinued.
PB 602 was a better design, in opinion of the topic's author.
Beiing attached to the PB system, I decided to play once more the Russian (or, in this case, Ukrainian) roulette - let's get the PB 602 even if it's heavier and more expensive.
But clicking on corresponding shopping buttons I got again "not available", "out of stock".
Nothing is being offered but the IQ tablet and 9-inch devices for the US market.
Would be nice to know what's going on - redesigning or going down, should we be patient or forget about it?