I challenge you to do this with a tablet that has a Wacom screen, or for that matter with any tablet. On the PCT you could probably get away with solar chargin

I challenge you to do this with a tablet that has a Wacom screen, or for that matter with any tablet. On the PCT you could probably get away with solar charging, but now you have two pieces of electronic gear that need to survive 5 months of continuous abuse. Packs fall apart, boots fall apart, tents develop leaks, sleeping pads develop leaks, T-shirts tear where a pack rubs on them, critters chew through your food bag, O-rings in stoves wear out, and socks have maybe a 2-3 month lifespan. This kind of use occasionally gets the better of headlamps, and they're designed with this sort of use in mind. Hell, I broke a camera lens (mechanically, not the glass, and it was repairable) that was made in the era when such things were made of metal throughout and you had to focus for yourself. Cell phones travel surprisingly well, but that's probably because they fit in ziplock bags, it's easy to get a silnylon stuff sack with a roll closure in that size, and they aren't big enough to be subjected to serious bending stress in a pack. Seriously, there's nothing iPad sized in a pack that'll protect it from the repeated bending as the whole load shifts slightly at every step. Paperback books tend to get curled from it, even if you try to pack them carefully. I agree with you whole-heartedly that even in general use paper is more powerful because of the input limitation. Even once that's overcome, paper will still be more powerful in any situation where durability is key and replacement options are limited.