I like the project, but it seems like as soon as buddy got access to real-time e-ink he just never looked back.

As well, I get the UI appeal of negative space, but my god it costs a fortune in e-ink.

As everyone is noting here, this project shows a pattern of "money is no object" in every decision made.

That doesn't mean it has to be, though. My gut tells me you could slash the cost in (at least) half while retaining like 90% of the utility.