Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is my third kindle. I still have my 2nd Gen Kindle Keyboard and I also own a Paperwhite 2nd Gen that is currently missing in action. I know it is somewhere in my house hiding in a bag or something. I am an avid reader and it is killing me to not have an e-reader so I decided to take the plunge on the Oasis with my thought being that if my perfectly good Paperwhite resurfaces, I would simply return the Oasis if I didn't love it. If I did love it and, could justify the price, I would put my Paperwhite on eBay where they appear to be getting pretty good money with a case. Well, if I ever find my Paperwhite, it is going on eBay for sure! Let's get this out of the way...yes, the Oasis is expensive. I read a bunch of reviews from the "experts" before I pulled the trigger. They all basically say the same thing: The Oasis is the best e-reader ever made, if you can afford it. Or, my personal favorite, "it's the best e-reader for the 1%." I am not in the 1%. They all feel that the price butts up too closely to the iPad mini and other devices that do far more. When I bought my Paperwhite originally, I let this thought process deter me from the Oasis. I mean what is Amazon thinking trying to sell a $300 e-reader?? Here is what they are thinking and really where I think many of the expert reviews missed the point. Yes, the Paperwhite does the exact same thing as the Oasis and, frankly, it does it just as well. What is missing in that thinking is just how important the form factor of an e-reader is. The actual hardware in this device is a game changer. It is super thin, lightweight, and just feels great in your hand. It is so much smaller that my wife didn't believe that it was the same size screen as the Paperwhite until she compared them side by side. When you have them side by side, the Paperwhite looks pre-historic. Additionally, the reintroduction of the physical buttons is something I missed with the Paperwhite. The design of the battery case and how it attaches magnetically to the Oasis is brilliant. I think Steve Jobs himself would have very much appreciated how thoughtful and well put together the Oasis is. Plus, the enhanced backlighting is perfect. It is difficult for me to imagine that too many folks could take the plunge on an Oasis and not feel like they got their monies worth. The Voyage was out of the question, given the delta in price after buying a case was approximately $30.To get another Paperwhite with a case would have saved me around $120. While that isn't insignificant, after owning both I can say, without hesitation, that the Oasis is worth the extra money on every level. I would encourage anyone that is a die hard reader to take the plunge on the Oasis. It isn't for the 1%, it's built for those of us that are passionate about their books. Well done Amazon. I am glad I finally had the guts to make the investment! *Update: I found my paperwhite. Under my bed somehow? Anyway, gifting to my oldest son. I still think the Oasis was worth the investment. Best eReader on the planet!