[pointyhat]

That is precisely it. Which brings me to the point here:

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3003812

"We're slowly being led into paying incrementally for utility computing on a device we actually paid up front for".

If it's no longer a computer, it's an open market to exploit. We are consumers, not users any more.

[Apocryphon]

I really don't understand your point. How is any of this to the detriment of the average user who uses the iPad to browse the net/read ebooks/watch movies/listen to music/as a digital photo frame? The average user doesn't need to use the iPad as a computer. If the problem is pricing, then that indeed is an issue with tablets, but then Apple's products have always been high priced.

[pointyhat]

It's at the detriment of the user when the iPad is no longer vogue and they wish to retain their books, movies and music.