Mr. Thurrott:
The iPad is a new type of computing device, just as Apple claimed. It offers a premium user experience for certain kinds of tasks only, and comes with a premium price to match. It is aimed at those consumers who wish to send a message to others, much like Prius drivers or Whole Foods shoppers. These people value style and status above functionality or cost concerns, and will put up with missing features and annoyances like the overly glossy and reflective screen, because they want to be seen as technology savvy trendsetters. (Which, arguably, they are.) And to be fair, they will be rewarded over time with functional improvements, if Apple’s history with the iPod and iPhone is any indication.
Apparently there are 2+ million of ‘these people’.