I still grab my basic kindle from time to time to read outside. I make sure to charge it regularly, but I know at some point the battery will be dead. Keyboard from 2010 and basic from 2013. I prefer also the buttons on those devices. The little basic is a joy to read on. But my eyes are getting older and it gets too hot here in summer to read outside much and I need the light inside now. But oh the words look lovely on the page. I know everyone wants all those pixels and I think on a phone screen, I can see that the more the better, but on the kindles the contrast was just so pleasant to read on.
To be fair, now with having the bold option turning it on to #1 is almost as good. But not quite the same pure reading experience, if you guys know what I mean.
And the progress bar. I still miss that thing
On the other hand the K1 looks pretty faded now compared to any of my other kindles. I don't know if its always looked that way or changed, if that is possible. But I read like 200 books on that thing in my first year owning it after not reading for a few years due to paper books being hard on my eyes at the time. I still have it and still charge it. Getting books on it only works now by plugging in via usb. It was life changing for me to get it.