Mike,

A different perspective. The guy behind saving the Gordon Setter, Norm Sorby, once published a book Called the "Black & Tan Bombshell, The Gordon Setter." He had to mortgage his home to do it. He eventually sold them all. When he wanted to reprint it he used one of the POD services. I purchased a book from them.
As the purchaser....
The book IMO is not as nice quality as a normal book, but close; however, without the service, Norm would not been able to afford to print the book again and I might never have gotten a copy of it! So from that perspective, it is great.

Although I haven't experienced an e reader yet, also I do not like books on CD that much. I have bought a few magazine re-prints on CD from Wolfe and typically I print them out and bind them myself so I can read them in my easy chair.
I did by my handicap daughter a nook for Christmas. She seems to enjoy it a lot, so maybe that media is something to look at.

Just my 2cents

Jerry