It has occurred to me that an iPad would be an excellent control panel for my home automation and media center, assuming the necessary app(s). I was already planning to use the iPhone for that purpose, and may still, but the greater screen real estate of the iPad makes it very attractive as a solution. I wouldn't even have to get anything more than the base model.

I still say the significantly decreased portability of the device (over the iPhone) is going to hurt its sales, at least among the 40% of the population that doesn't carry a purse. Though as you point out, the actual intended market is so large that this probably won't prevent it from being successful.

I generally don't mind the tech support calls. M.'s parents ply me with beer (and their first-born daughter), and their problems are usually pretty easy to handle, even after a beer or two, and if my folks can't fix the problem themselves, then it's going to be interesting and educational to figure out.