Ha, interesting and unexpected discussion here ... thanks!
I don't really have that much to contribute, never having owned a tablet (although I've borrowed one from friends on occasion)... the thing is I don't necessarily want "Bang" for my bucks, I've already got a laptop for that (or if I really were after "bang", I'd probably get some silly gaming rig with liquid nitrogen cooling or whatever); I want something that (ideally) does exactly one or two things and doesn't get me distracted.
As for reading books from LCD screens in 1986, I somehow doubt that...
but I won't argue with the idea that modern lcd screens if handled correctly can be easy enough on the eyes. You've in fact got me into looking into the ipad option more seriously. I'll probably see if I can find something used from a few years back for cheap, in addition to whatever e-reader I end up buying (tax return coming through, eh...)