Actually the IEEE Computer Magazine did a very good story on the usability of ebook interfaces.
http://www.computer.org/portal/cms_d...eb09/r2wit.pdf
They found people were much more comfortable with random access in ebooks when the interface generated simulated page edges on either side of the reading area. Gave the user a better feel of percentage complete then a slider, and adding chapter or section tabs made user very comfortable with jumps. The peanut reader on a PC gives a static page edge, not one that reflects the percentage complete but I have to agree there is a comfort the edges provide. The article cover animated page turns but I can easily live without that.
Unfortunately with the cost of e-ink screen real estate I doubt the findings in this article will effect anything other then PC interfaces.