That is actually why I'm glad they are using the OS they are. While having the iPad rocking Snow Leopard would be cool, the iPhone OS makes the device easy to use without a mouse pointer. And if you really need to have access to a full pc environment, use a remote desktop solution and connect it to your own computer.
My plan exactly.
When my sister asked me what I would do with one, I said e-books, audio-books, movies, Slingplayer TV, and to access my home LAN. With 64G, I will use it as a storage device in my network file system.
For the moment, I am using Logmein Ignition to access my home LAN. Works well over WiFi or 3G. I expect it to be awesome on the iPad. Air Sharing Pro will help me exploit the storage. It will also play PowerPoints, Keynotes, and other slide shows.
While I did not say so explicitly to my sister, I am sure that, as I do with my iPhone, I will use it to access services in the cloud. Some of these are general purpose applications like Dropbox while others are very specific like Tripcase, Worldmate, Flight Status, and Deliveries.
Games are not on my list but they will be on my iPad. Children love the iPhone and the Touch and, if the NYTimes is to be believed, the iPad may be a "child's best friend." And yes, I will let children play with it, and yes, they might drop it.
Looking back, it is hard to believe that I bought the iPhone to make phone calls on and maybe to use as a PDA. Today, that view seems naive. The iPhone was a "game changer." I suspect the iPad may be such a change agent. If so, my list above may look similarly naive in three years.
I am waiting patiently for Apple to start taking orders.