No, the reader does not support cbz/cbr.
PDF is not better, it is just better for my given situation.
For the files I have converted, PDF provides almost the same compression as cbz/cbr.
From a reading/viewing standpoint, PDFs are a bit more universally accessible; however, they can be a little more difficult to access from a color correction/image manipulation standpoint.
For my reading purposes, I have been running the images through some color/tone/contrast correction. The results look great; I will not be uploading any of those because the site already has the original files. In addition, from an archival perspective, something as close to the source material as possible would be preferred.
From the standpoint of this sight, the chosen methods of compression and storage make the most sense.
I do like the laptop/epad combos. They provide greater versatility, I have been looking at the Ipad in particular for a while, and into various other comparable products as well. The Slick ER-700 is smaller and less cumbersome, and only cost $90.