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I don't look at the features, changes/updates, covers, charging methods, etc. of a new device release until after I've evaluated the basic worth of the device. In this case, that initial question appears to be "Is an eReader worth over $200?" My answer to that is "No". So I will hang on to my PaperWhite 3 until it dies, and when it does, I'll look to see what other eReaders are available at what price. I'm guessing that they're not going to get cheaper between now and then, no matter the brand, so I'll probably end up switching to reading eBooks on either my smartphone or my tablet. Both of those devices do a whole lot more than a single use eReader. Mind you, I do like reading books on my PaperWhite. That cost me $89 back in 2017. Even that price was somewhat of a stretch for me. That is not an affordability thing - I am lucky enough to be able to buy whatever I want without thinking about it. But I got to this desirable position in life by not buying things that are overpriced for what they do.
Other's opinions and needs may be the total opposite of mine. Those who consume books at an accelerated pace, or require larger font sizes because of vision difficulties will likely feel completely different than I do (I do enjoy enlarging font sizes when my eyes are tired, but that's not a critical feature for me if it jacks the price up exorbitantly).
It is possible for vendors to price themselves out of the market. That's happening in other areas as well. Take video streaming. Used to be, all's you needed to watch your favorite shows was Netflix. But nowadays you have to subscribe to Netflix and Paramount+ and Disney+ and Hulu and Peacock and AppleTV and AmazonPrime and HBOMax and YouTube and ... Each one at an individual subscription price that is about the same as you used to pay for only one (Netflix) that had everything. Amazon is pulling this same "divide and conquer" stunt now. You don't need just an eReader, now you need to buy a separate charging stand, case, page turning buttons, etc. If you want "lightweight and thin", then having to add a separate case for button functionality pretty much destroys that concept. Might as well just read on your smartphone when you're on the go, or tablet when you're at home. The value/cost ratio for Kindles is taking a nosedive. Probably other brand eReaders as well. They're going to go the way of other electronic Dodo birds like the PDA's (e.g., "Palm Pilot") etc. When a simple device does one and only one thing, it needs to get cheaper over time, not more expensive.
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