For me it was some years ago, when I began to be weary of reading my ebooks on my laptop or on my PocketPC... I then searched on the web for a reader device with a bigger screen, but was stopped by the price of a thing that served only to read books (compared to a PocketPC, it was really a luxury !)
From time to time I was tempted, but for the price !...
And finally, in January of this year, I decided to take the plunge for my Cybook !
Just after my order, I joined MR !
So for me, gadget first, then MR ! (even though your comparison matrix helped me for my choice !
)