yokos Yeah, the clear vinyl over the screen is open at 4 corners. I was surprised by that, too. But it isn't necessarily bad, because it serves a few purposes: 1) it helps you adjust the Sleeve by giving somewhere to hook a finger and wiggle until the overlay fits properly; 2) the openings act as ventilation windows, preventing moisture from condensing inside the Sleeve; and 3) the openings along the bottom let you tap icons.
Does the vinyl interfere with the pen? Well, yes and no. The vinyl lies on top of the casing of the iLiad, while the screen itself is recessed several millimeters, and this recession is uneven in depth. The stylus does function without actually touching the screen, gliding along the vinyl, but the airspace between the screen and vinyl means that using the stylus needs a light touch. Heavy stylus pressure on the vinyl may leave depressions, especially along the bottom icon region. I haven't poked a hole through it yet, though came close a few times.
Never realized what a beautiful but wildly asymmetric object the iLiad is until I put the Sleeve Jacket on it.
Hope that helps.
Rae