I actually prefer paperbacks as well, for pretty much the same reasons you do. I always have a book with me, and it's hard to carry a hardback in your purse. :p

I do buy some authors in hardback still, because I'm not waiting the up to a year for the pprbck release. But I'll usually read those at home and not tote them around.

I'm also someone who reads only one book at a time, and having a nice fat stack of paperbacks waiting to be read is truly one of my favorite pleasures.