I haven't used the cover that came with my Kindle since the first day. I got a Waterfield sleeve case for it (with a strap) that I love (sfbags.com). But I read the Kindle without a cover on it.
Keep in mind that you can hold it anywhere down on the keyboard part, the keys are disabled when you are reading on it. It will probably take a couple of weeks, but you learn all the ways you can pick it up and hold it without pressing the Next Page buttons. I almost never hit them on accident any more.
