While I agree with your reasons why an ereader is a wonderful invention, I still seem to hold on to my reservations about using one. I, too, like to know how far I am from the end of a chapter, but that's a little moot in my opinion, and a book's battery life is by far better than a Kindle's; I jest.

Nevertheless, I'll proffer a few reasons why I think it's important to continue to own "real" books.

1. Though it may never come to this in America, I'll mention it anyway. ereaders make available downloadable content through a publisher, and the publisher maintains a connection to that content. This proves useful for fixing editorial mistakes, but it also leaves the door open for potential tampering. Indeed, all of the (good) post-apocalyptic literature wisely draws the reader's attention to a world in which the government controls access to knowledge, and it behooves people to consider that a device which does not actually possess a book, but merely borrows bits of data from a publisher, is a device that is susceptible to tampering. At this point, we need not worry about this problem in America, but other regions of the world do, which makes a physical book so much safer because it can't be updated remotely.

2. I think books are a great way to spark discussion. Especially as believers, it makes a statement to read a Bible in public, to study the Word with friends in public, and an ereader hides all of that. In the past, people have made comments about the title of a book I am reading or the author, and since most of what I read is canonical, I'm often able to respond with truths about the condition of man––his hopelessness, his discontentment in life, which can lead to talking of Christ.

3. I'd be much more apt to lend a book than an ereader. Here, I must plead ignorance. I don't know if ereaders have the ability to transfer content to another ereader for a limited period of time. If they do, then that's great, but otherwise, I like to lend books or give people books. A younger man (I'm still young), recently told me how he appreciated the way I used to teach the students in a small group that I led. He said he appreciated my methodical, expositional style (and if they learned anything, it was only by the Holy Spirit working through my feeble messages), so I gave him a book about Calvin and Luther and Augustine because he enjoys Church history, and it seemed like an appropriate book considering his comment and the fact that he was studying for the ministry. It's certainly a small thing to like books better because I can give them away easier, but I think it matters. I would imagine, however, that it would be cheaper to give away ebooks.

At some point, perhaps books will become more a niche market, but they will never disappear. People will always want books, and I personally will continue to read an actual book because I simply prefer it.

One final thought, books encourage curiosity and an expansion of knowledge. Browsing is one of the best ways to learn about new things, especially for children, and that's something that I will dreadfully miss should bookstores continue to disappear.