I am also trying to decide what to buy to replace my beloved Nook that is falling apart. Really the beloved part is the soft, extra padded, cover I am attached to. They don't seem to make these any more.
Do I buy the Samsung Galaxy Nook that is B&N friendly or a regular Galaxy, or look for something else. The reviews say the reader, most important to me, is the best out there but the battery life isn't great and it is slow. My current Nook is very slow & takes forever to connect to the wifi.