Big G does charge a bit - especially for those clunky hardback novel size fliptop tablet PCs that they still hawk... But I don't see the iPad as such an expensive solution compared to what was available.
You buy the hardware yourself (USD500?), get an annual PlaneView subscription (USD3900 for the first sub, drops to around USD2500 and less for subsequent). Download the application for free from the iTunes store, and off you go. Been using it for a few months now, functionality is identical to the hyperlinked PlaneView documents that were available on the tablet PC without the physical and mental anguish.
On top of that, I use one of our idle Jeppview site licences to keep an active install on the iPad as well. Nice to have, very easy to keep up to date.
No coffee button yet though... that will come with Cert Hotel, I hear.