I agree, though I'm assuming it really can take a long time at some airports; even in Europe there is the infamous Heathrow take-off queue, or the Polderbaan at Schiphol which is like half the country away from the terminal (I don't know how it is with the holding pattern; at least here in Norway the seatbelt sign tends to light up pretty late, and certainly not when the plane is holding).
But from what I understand a big reason for the "taxi, takeoff and landing" routine is that somebody completely absorbed by their iPad is the last thing the crew want when things to pear-shaped, and when this happens, it's at these points rather than on cruising altitude. Now of course you might the same argument for a book (although it's a strong one for music players), but just my $0.02
But from what I understand a big reason for the "taxi, takeoff and landing" routine is that somebody completely absorbed by their iPad is the last thing the crew want when things to pear-shaped, and when this happens, it's at these points rather than on cruising altitude. Now of course you might the same argument for a book (although it's a strong one for music players), but just my $0.02