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Page numbers where created to allow one to index, or reference a particular section of a book and citing books. For instance table of contents, indexes, and the classic (see page XXX for a chart on this data). Page numbers can also be used to determine how long a book is.
My take is that page numbers are no longer needed. The reason is that software can resolve most of the reasons we use page numbers. With links there is no need to add a page number to ToC or indexes. Just jump straight to the location. Also most software can handle displaying the page number or a progress bar. Some software even measures the word count.
The only use of page numbers that software cannot resolve is when citing a work. But this type of reference only works with pbooks if the book size or font never change. We know that is not the case.
But again there is more hope in SW resolving this issue than even the with pBooks. If folks start refering to sections via paragraphs or word count and software standardizes on a way to calculate them then people can then cite the paragragh/word count
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