Ok, first off, stock up on some good antiseptic wipes. That's of major importance!
While I don't entirely share your feelings of the go anywhere, do almost anything, converged device, I understand where you're coming from. Actually, I do like converged devices, just not in my primary reader. I have a BlackBerry 8900 and that's the all in one productivity tool. A regular iPod takes care of music.
Having all that power in one small device is quite nice and very convenient. For me though, and I've never been a big book reader, mostly magazines, but my 600 keeps attention from being diverted like a mini-computer can. If I see an email notification, I check it. If a calendar entry pops up a reminder, I'll check it. Having the web right there is always tempting. However, the 600 lets me settle in and read like I've never done before. If you don't have that kind of problem (distraction?), kudos to you.
I also don't like reading on a rinky dink screen even though my eyesight is perfect, and without glasses or contacts. I actually prefer the purity of the greyscale screen, at least for normal books.
As for light, I seem to have no problems with a slight adjustment to get good lighting anywhere.
I say give it more time, and use it as your sole reader so you can adjust. If you don't like it after a couple of weeks, return it. You might be a good candidate for one of the new tablet devices coming out soon.