One of my issues with the 1000S isn't necessarily the cost... It's my perception that this technology is still in it's infancy... I feel like we're going to see some leaps soon (larger screens for less $, color screens, etc.) and that prices for devices like the 1000S and their successors will start to drop to far more reasonable prices.
Like buying a 1 gig MP3 player for a fortune soon before the much larger and similarly priced devices arrived. Or spending thousands on a 42" tv when a superb plasma can now be purchased for $800 or less. It seems like ereaders will be picking up steam like these technologies. And fairly soon...
But not in time to use one for my masters research
Maybe if I get job offer...