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Amazon addressed (successfully IMHO) the market of readers who just wanted a reader - that was only a reader. Free access to Wikipedia was an incentive for the many readers who constantly look up references, allusions, etc. But the key point of the Kindle was that you didn't have to know anything about computers, or even own one, to successfully use a Kindle. Especially since you now had one-click buying of books via Whispernet. Obviously, for many people, these features alone were worth enough to them to offset the pricing for a reader that was just a reader. All you need to read is the Kindle - no PC required. Also, IMHO from reading discussion boards, blogs, etc. - these Kindle adopters are older folk - who just want to read - a lot, not learn to use a PC - even to just drag books over via USB.
There's another population who cry "That much JUST for a reader!" Who want internet access, synching with PCs/phones/PDAs, etc, email, messaging, etc - all on one gadget - with ebooks. "More features before I pay that much!"
And probably, to increase the market of ebook adopters, more features will be added, leading to a situation now seen in PCs (as noted in earlier posts) - people buying new gadgets with ALL the bells and whistles and using only the reader function.
So I'm a little cautious in looking at the results of these surveys - it really depends on the pool of respondents and their tech habits.
Who knows, this consumer trend might lead to budget lines of readers that only read and more upscale lines of all-in-one gadgets. The growing pool of aging Baby Boomers that 1) love to read, and 2) have a disposable income, and 3) aging eyes - may really influence ebook development, growth, & survival.
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