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Don't forget, Jon, there are still non-dedicated devices that can read content from almost every e-book source (except Amazon... and if you have an iPhone, you can read from other sources and get the Kindle app). For people in this country and outside, anyone can buy e-books from multiple sources. Amazon is by no means a monopoly, as I can attest by the dozen e-books I've bought this year, none of which came from Amazon.
Amazon knows they can't beat others on price. That's why they push the Kindle advantage of getting the book this instant... that's why you're paying a premium price. But if you're not in that much of a hurry, you'll find out that there are other sources for many of those books, and you are free to buy from them instead. So if price is more important than instant gratification, by all means, look elsewhere.
Amazon is but one retailer, and when they are in direct competition with other retailers, it is the consumer that has control. Vote with your wallets. If Amazon doesn't sell an e-book the way you like it, then by all means, don't buy it. And you might want to leave a post about it, too, so Amazon will find out why you didn't buy, and take that into account when they explore future sales models.
Or... just don't buy. Yes, the industry is going through growing pains (pretty amazing for an industry for a product that's been around for 20 years, huh?). But it will settle down, and then you can buy e-books for much better prices. And in the meantime, maybe this would be a good time to check out material by indie authors... maybe you'll discover the next Steinbeck.
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