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I think eInk devices are already so cheap that price isn't a driver of sales. I think it's clear that it's reading that drove the success of the Kindle more than eInk. The Amazon store with easy access to ebooks reasonably priced. Amazon did for ebooks what iTunes did for music.
I think devices not tied to an ecosystem like Kindle, Kobo, B&N, Sony are dead. All of those ecosystems have come out with tablets too. On top of that are the apps that bring those ebook ecosystems to general tablets.
EInk sales didn't level off, they crashed. Thus was the ecosystem more than the eInk that drove the early explosion. Ebooks are still growing very well....just on tablets and smartphones. Those that absolutely hate reading on an LCD device are simply vastly outnumbered by those who find it good enough or even preferred. Tablets have come down in price, size and weight. Smartphones have increased in screen size and resolution.
It's kind of like 3D games. I can't play them, they make me "car sick" within 15 minutes. That's true of a lot of people. But the vast majority have no problem whatsoever.
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