I'd not heard of this model, and amusingly my first hit (4th in an incognito) for `Boox Palma` is a lengthy reddit-user rant from 2y ago about build quality, sluggish performance, and woeful battery life.
That aside, totally agree on the form factor. My first ebook reader was a pocketbook 360, which came bundled with a rigid cover (would snap onto the back while reading) and a 5" screen, when most ebook readers were around the 6" diagonal.
The size delta was significant as it meant the difference between fitting in a jacket pocket vs needing to carry a bag, and that really changes your likelihood to take it with you / read a book.
And its actually quite hard to get now as it has been replaced by Palma 2 which is even faster. You can actually watch youtube videos on it and it is better than one would expect.
I take the opposite view about size. I am already carrying a phone which is acceptable for reading on (or TTS to my headphones). If I expect to have the chance to read at length then I am willing to pack a larger ereader.
That aside, totally agree on the form factor. My first ebook reader was a pocketbook 360, which came bundled with a rigid cover (would snap onto the back while reading) and a 5" screen, when most ebook readers were around the 6" diagonal.
The size delta was significant as it meant the difference between fitting in a jacket pocket vs needing to carry a bag, and that really changes your likelihood to take it with you / read a book.