For me what is far more important then gray scale is contrast ratio and White State Reflectivity. 7:1 and 40% are not ever going to work for me. Shades of gray are important for sure but the other numbers need to be better. I would like to see a 50% improvement in those numbers or I am sticking to my PDA's and will do all the platform/format shifting I need to because I am allowed due the the disabilities clause of the DMCA. Hence no eink device maker will earn my cash. I am sure that causes them to lose sleep (
) but it is a matter of delivering a product that serves the needs of a large subset of potential customers.
Also only publishers of either DRM I can remove so i can use the devices I have and can afford or offer DRM-free multiformat editions will earn my business.
All the other promises are background noise in my book. I know what I need from a device now and we'll see how is first to deliver. My money is still on Astak. I hope their device draw people in but they do not get consumed by Amazon as it tries to own the ebook market.