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There isn't any inherent difference in thickness between a removable back using clips moulded in or a removable back using screws or one that's glued / welded.
Also a screwed on clipped in battery like in the Kindle DXG or Kindle Keyboard actually needs no more depth than one using double sided sticky tape (many tablets) and both use a little less than a hurriedly glued in cell. Glue is simply used because it's fast and cheap, not because it's saving depth.
Backs that are kept on by screws rather than click together clips (easily opened if you know where they are even with a guitar plectrum) cost marginally more in time to assemble and materials (the screws, there need not be inserts). It's partly to stop people casually opening them as a €3 calculator may have a screw on rear cover. That's being done now for safety to stop small children opening the hatch and swallowing the one or two coin cells (Lithium) or two or three button cells (Alkaline).
I've just today fitted a new cell pack to a Kindle DXG and I've replaced the cell packs in two Kindle Keyboards this Spring. The DX or DXG is less obvious how to open, the plastic part has tabs under the rear panel (plastic so RF can work), you have to press a tool just at the two correct places and then move small cover away. Then there are two screws almost invisible at right angles holding the back (rather than the 3 obvious screws), which then slides down slightly like the back on a cheap calculator. Two screws and no soldering on the cell pack.
A lot of tablets, phones and some ereaders use soldered on cell wires and glue or fierce double sided tape. It's unacceptable as the screen can be easily broken, or seal on the cell torn. That has to stop. It's purely to save assembly time though it does give more flexibility on cell replacement than one using a plug and especially with the cell packs that have a sensor or controller in them.
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