I'm on a Kobo H20 as well after upgrading from a Kindle many years and several devices ago.
* Also works in lots of countries
* Great iOS and Android apps
* Well-priced devices, and no ads to remove
* Great hacking community (even complete replacement software) and DeDRM support
* Insanely robust library that has never let me down
* Ability to easily side-load content without needing a send-to feature (plug it in and drag/drop, or use Calibre)
* No Audible, but (a) it's an ereader not an audio player (it does actually do mp3s though) and (b) Kobo have an audiobook store
So all in all, the Kobo has worse audiobooks but better hacking and side-loading.
Even if you prefer Kindle over Kobo, it is clearly not second-rate. And as for the last comment about being tied into an ecosystem, that's purely an Amazon thing. Kobo don't require that kind of acquiescence.
* Also works in lots of countries
* Great iOS and Android apps
* Well-priced devices, and no ads to remove
* Great hacking community (even complete replacement software) and DeDRM support
* Insanely robust library that has never let me down
* Ability to easily side-load content without needing a send-to feature (plug it in and drag/drop, or use Calibre)
* No Audible, but (a) it's an ereader not an audio player (it does actually do mp3s though) and (b) Kobo have an audiobook store
So all in all, the Kobo has worse audiobooks but better hacking and side-loading. Even if you prefer Kindle over Kobo, it is clearly not second-rate. And as for the last comment about being tied into an ecosystem, that's purely an Amazon thing. Kobo don't require that kind of acquiescence.