Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Before the review, a note: If this receives "unhelpful" votes because you personally do not share the same experience with this product, that's your prerogative to do so. I am simply sharing my own experience with purchasing and using the newest device. Last year I cycled through 4 different Paperwhites in an attempt to get one with an acceptable screen, finally giving up and returning the device for good. Here is the link to that review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R5PRPJSK91X0B/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm Similar to last year, if I had received a 2013 Paperwhite with zero screen defects I would be completely satisfied with this device and be writing a 4-5 star review (I still miss the page turn buttons.) This is potentially an excellent device, and the improvements from last year's model are readily apparent: faster, more responsive touchscreen, better contrast, improved lighting. This could and should be the best e-reader on the market. Unfortunately, I have once again received multiple units with different screen defects: Kindle #1 - Uneven lighting at top and bottom, 2 distinct dark splotches in the text area, significant ghosting issues after just one page turn. Kindle #2 (sent as replacement) - Very uneven lighting at the bottom, abnormally bright at the top, 3 small pinhole light leaks in the text area, software lags more than Kindle #1, obvious signs of being previously handled/returned. I was offered another replacement, but my combined experiences involving this device means I am done riding the return/exchange carousel. 6 separate tries for an acceptable device is plenty. There is a clear pattern of quality control issues involving this new lighting technology. The 2013 device is much improved with the evenness of the lighting on the bottom of the screen, but it is still not perfectly uniform. If the devices I received did not have any other issues I would not have noticed or cared all the much. The unevenness/blotches in the reading area, however, persist in my personal experience. While I think the idea behind the lighting technology is brilliant and I very much want the feature (as evidenced by my repeated attempts) I am not willing to "settle" for a defective screen on a brand new device. I also need to re-iterate this point from last year: It is UNACCEPTABLE business practice to send recently returned items out again as replacements to other customers. If I've paid for a brand new device I expect its replacement to be the same. How could Amazon think that sending me a Kindle recently returned for screen defects (I am of course assuming, but they are readily evident on first glance) will somehow replace a Kindle I'm returning with screen defects? This gives the impression that they are cycling through units because they are short on supplies hoping that the customers will "settle" eventually. I find this extremely off-putting and damaging to the Amazon brand as a whole. What a waste of time and money, both mine and their own. As always, customer support was extremely helpful and kind over the phone. I have never once taken issue with this part of the Amazon experience. I've once again returned all Paperwhites and will continue to stick with my Kindle Keyboard. For those of you that have and continue to have positive experience with this device, I am truly jealous. I am not going to persist with a pursuit of an acceptable screen, as it is far too similar to last year's frustrations that dragged on through 4 returns. I wish everyone the best of luck in avoiding quality control issues, and I hope this review is helpful for someone in a similar position to myself. If anyone from Amazon would like further feedback or has additional information I am happy to talk.