I think parent commenter isn't just worried about the e-ink display, but the general fact that the entire device itself is going to be sitting in dirty shipping

I think parent commenter isn't just worried about the e-ink display, but the general fact that the entire device itself is going to be sitting in dirty shipping containers, warehouses, trucks, etc without any kind of covering. I know I've gotten some shipments before that have stains of who-knows-what-liquid soaked into the cardboard. I'm not a germophobe, but even so, this probably isn't a device you want to be handling while also eating a sandwich. Lysoling it is probably wise.