I've had the same shopping experience. Since I have my reader (in my case, either my Palm or my eBookWise), I no longer mind sitting and waiting while my wife tries on clothes or shoes.
Given the back lighting on the eBookWise, she also doesn't complain any more when I decide to read a bit more after she turns off her light and goes to sleep (if I had a Sony, I'd use a little book lamp).
Considering how big some of paper books are, lugging paper just to have something to read is a hassle. And you look like you're being productive if you're reading a reader--unlike, say, a book with a garish cover featuring a chick in a chain-mail bra.
Rob Preece
Publisher,
www.BooksForABuck.com