Portrait or landscape - if your use is dominated by looking at the screen and/or situations where it can't set it down (to use the KB), then the iPad is better.
Assuming the software you need supports iPad, etc.
No, you’re not the only person. I use it to read news, blogs & hckrnews. Probably more than 2h per day. Often in an IKEA bamboo Bergenes, which I have several laying around the house, upside down with a usb-c cord charging it till 80%.