I've been debating putting in a deposit on the foxit, since it seems to be the simplest and most affordable. But since it is coming from a software company(albeit one with a good reputation) it is a gamble.

Another idea worth considering is making Eink based reader yourself. However, a development kit from E-ink is "only" $3,000, at that price one might as well buy all the Eink based readers on the market and dissasemble them.