On-behalf of my boss (I will inform him of your good wishes for them), I thank you for the sympathies expressed.
I've had an iPad for a year+ and will keep that one for personal use, and use this for work. It's much easier to carry around than a laptop. I have an Otterbox Defender for the first one. My wife says, "that defeats the slim beauty of the iPad design!" Yes, it does make it more-bulky, but it also allows it to live given the rough handling it gets. Maybe I'll try some other holder, maybe c-f? Anyone know of one?