I've got one nick in my screen from a too close encounter with a metal ruler, totally my fault.
I haven't had any real concerns about scratches on mine with the covers.
I love that invisible shield stuff (recently put it on my Trēo) but I think it's probably too smooth for the Reader display for my tastes -- I'm concerned about glare and reflections, I mean.
I do think that the display makers ought to get clever and have the displays coated with that stuff at the factory, with a proper non-glare finish, it'd be awesome!