No regrets here, but I got one from the second shipment, so my paint is staying on. The rubberized paint is great if you, or she, is obsessive about thumb prints. With this reader there are none.
I find that my arthritic thumbs really like the scroll wheel for turning pages. While it's true that I could get more text on the screen with the 6" Sony 505, my thumbs were not happy.
The folder system works well for organization with a bit of help from Calibre. I miss being able to organize with tags, like I could on the Sony, but it's not a deal breaker for me. The screen is every bit as good as people say it is and the pages turn quickly.
I am likely to get a six inch reader in the spring, after the new models come out at CES and more in depth reports are available on the Nook, but that's because I'm a wee bit obsessive about new technology.
Customer service is prompt and personal and this reader comes with everything you need, right out of the box, which is more than most manufacturers (Sony) can say. If your wife likes it and wants the more portable size, I'd go for it. They just started offering a really nice gift pack for the holidays.