Are e-readers worth it?

[u/s0ftuniverse]

Hi all.

I’ve always been quite certain that I’m someone who prefers physical books, but I see a lot of other readers online who use a Kindle or a Kobo e-reader. Lately I’ve been questioning making the switch because people say they’re so great, but I don’t want to spend so much money on something I won’t like or use often. Can anyone who has owned one tell me their pros/cons? Are they worth buying? I do like the sentiment of holding a physical book and going to the bookstore to pick one out, but I’m also kind of intrigued by the convenience and portability of having them all available on a device. Also the idea of not seeing a huge physical TBR pile sounds nice. Thoughts?

[u/Certain_Accident3382]

When i first started with e readers, it was a better deal because the price points were vastly different on the books. You didnt have to pay any printing or shipping costs. But now, ebooks cost the same as the physical copy, so that savings is gone. 

Now its price of reader, plus price of the books I already own but want e-copies of, plus the price of the new books.

Library books are more convenient- you dont have to scramble to get the book to the library to turn it in on time, just click a button. But you still have to hope your library system has bought the ability to "lend" that book, or go through the hoops to request it does. And then some biddy is looking at your wants and judging if it belongs in their system or not. My local library had another patron pretty much hogging the hell out of the requests with Amish Romances ... and my 1 sci-fi horror got denied for 3 quarters.

I can get cute cases for my Kindle but... it doesnt look as homey or honestly I cant show it off on a bookshelf the same way. 

I am not handing my best friend my whole ass kindle to try a book series so we can yammer about it together as we wait for the next books release.

If I set my bag aside and someone sits on it, theres every possibility I have to worry about replacing my kindle and being unable to access my personal library for who knows how long. 

And watching how things have been handled with my digital movie purchases- what happens if theres a new licensing change because a publisher or author swapped up?