Ok, just got a little time to write this.
Sony may upgrade this product, but even in its current form, it is all good as a "reading companion" for schools/colleges/universities/home use.
1. As compared with Kindle DX and other 9.7 models, it is lighter.
2. The capacitative screen is very convenient when turning pages with a slightest movement of the fingure. I would have been greatly annoyed, if I had had to use some other stylus-only model.
3. Some software can be cut out, if this will bring the price down.
4. The screen is good enough for reading big size text-oriented textbooks.
Now, Sony get bring to the market new models, with new e-ink screen, updated software, but it will put it at some price of around $800. This is no good for many school/colleges, which do prefer to use tablets/notebooks both for reading/playing/navigating, and they will be very hesitant to buy such a thing for around $1000, when they can get away with some tablet.
So, just few students will be tempted to buy something merely for reading (occasional annotating) for $800, if they can buy 12.9 Ipad for the same price. Surely, Sony can position it as unique niche product, but my point it that a new "ultimate" version may remain at around up to $800 (I would prefer less, of course), but Sony may still continue to produce the current version regularly decreasing the price for it.
Now, when the flex epearl screen's price goes down, the Sony may offer it for the market at around $200.
Then folks can really consider buying it as the reading companion. Some textbooks, some books are just plain text. And this is where the Sony is perfect.
With all the new developments of screens by Apple, it is still not good for reading for hours.
I think that if Sony decides to send out her sample products to the educational departments of various countries, they may begin to recommend buying the device.
But the price should be much lower than $800, and the texts should be a little tuned by Calibre.
The Sony's system is closed, but there is a benefit to focus on the text itself, and not on the surroundings. If someone is willing to play, he can play with the tablet's tuninings.