Ah, I think I'm getting a better read on you now, radleyp -- I think I was reading your comments as being meant more sharply than you were writing them.
Yah, I know about Mike's article, but I found most telling his comment that he was pretty unimpressed after a cursory glance (and after reading less than complementary reviews), but changed his mind
after finding out more about the device and spending some time with it, i.e. getting some real information on it.
His present view seems pretty considered and informed considering his explanation of what it's founded on, so I don't look for it to change. Though you're right, there's nothing that garauntees that he
won't change his mind again.
The real reason I'd give his review some weight (if I were still at the stage of making my own decision), is that he explains
what his conclusions are based on. That means that the reader can look at what he says and decide how important those points are to him in his particular circumstances. In any case, the reader is left with more information than he had starting out, rather than just Mike's opinion. Sure, you get that too, but you don't get
just his opinion.
As for
needing a Reader, I don't know that you do. It's kinda like Tivo, I didn't
need it until after I
had it, now I
won't go back to reading on my Palm.
I would recommend that you go see one for yourself (if you haven't already), and spend some time with it and see what you think of it then.
@Bowerbird: 
Actually I meant for their book store, they need
some way for folks to find books they like in the thing.
My first thought was to pitch it to Amazon, but they probably wouldn't want to switch.
