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Just like music, DRM will die for eBooks. We don't know when. For me, there are more important issues than DRM.
Amazon has created a super easy product and service to browse, buy, download, and start reading a book NOW. For me, this would be FANTASTIC if Amazon had a eBook rental service. I don't buy many new books or eBooks. My first stop is my Public Library. I would rent eBooks if the library did not have it or there was a sizable wait list. For rental, I don't care about format or DRM.
In the meantime, I want my Kindle to support Public Library eBooks from Overdrive.com. Yes, I can do this all myself with scripts and format conversion. If the Kindle could handle ALL the Overdrive eBooks with no or minimal fuss - I would recommend it to everyone that has an interest in eBooks. Now, it is the rare individual to whom I recommend the Kindle.
Amazon could get MORE of my money with a eBook rental service.
If Amazon, or a third party, adds Adobe Digital Editions support AND ePub plus PDF, I would likely stay with Kindle and buy more for family members. If not, I will probably buy another competing eReader product.
The first "reasonable" eReader device that works with all the Overdrive eBooks will get me as a customer. Add eBook rental - like Netflix and BlockBuster - then everyone involved makes MORE money from me.
I like Amazon, but my use cases are not well supported by their current offerings.
I don't care if a eBook vendor sells only a specific format. I would not buy more eBooks from Amazon if they offered ePub as an option. I would not buy more eBooks from Amazon if they removed DRM. I will stay with Kindle IF they either add eBook rental or add support for all of the Public Library Overdrive eBooks. Otherwise.....
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