I agree with you and I too prefer to hold the actual book in my hand. Having worked in a couple of bookstores I loved to wander around the store touching new books and reconnecting with some of my older favorites. I can't imagine I'd ever want a kindle. My DH is always offering to get me one since I usually have 3 or 4 books going at any given time. He thinks the kindle was designed for people like me. But the reason I have several going at one time is because I don't want to carry a book with me around at home. If I feel like reading for 10-30 minutes, I pick up whichever book I have nearby and the same goes for all the room in my house (except my sewing room... in there I only think of sewing). I don't have to spend the time I could be reading chasing down a book.
Oh, before I forget... welcome to the board from northern New Hampshire.