Well, I just spent over 90 minutes reading 200+ pages of a periodical. Previously I wouldn't have gotten further than about 20-30 minutes and 50 pages before a freeze. So, I'd say the firmware update is a success for me! I'm glad it was software and not a hardware fix. Now I can say the T1 is a fantastic reader and not have qualms about the firmware stability.
Hooray! We can all do a happy dance!