Misleading characterization
I am certainly a strong supporter of open standards, but I have to disagree with your assertion that the iPad will "insidiously rope you into the Apple ecosystem." That implies something negative, treacherous and indeed harmful is going on. Scores of millons of people have voted with their wallets to make Apple's the most successful hardware/software ecosystem in history, because it works great. Where's the harm in joining that community? Remember that the iPad is a very different device - not a general purpose computer like my MacBook where I happily use OpenOffice.
Also, the iPad 2 is a much better device for "Heavy Readers" than the first iPad. It is thinner and lighter, making it easier to hold for extended periods. It's true that the Kindle is a better poolside companion (easier to read in direct sunlight, and cheaper to replace if you drop it in the water) but "heavy readers" probably spend a lot more time indoors (living rooms, bedrooms, airports/airplanes, coffee shops, etc) where the backlit iPad has the advantage.
