Here is how I've solved the lack of multitasking and maybe this will work for you.
If you're like me you always have your iPhone with you. So if I need to listen to pandora or have some IM sessions going while using my iPad, I listen to pandora on the iPhone with some headphones. Frees up things to do on the iPad. Likewise, if I'm doing something on the iPad like typing this message right now, and an email comes in I can pick up my iPhone and check it and never leave this page. All emails are synced on both devices so it doesn't matter where I'm reading it from.
It's not ideal, but it works for me.
Btw, typing on the iPad in landscape is a breeze!
If you're like me you always have your iPhone with you. So if I need to listen to pandora or have some IM sessions going while using my iPad, I listen to pandora on the iPhone with some headphones. Frees up things to do on the iPad. Likewise, if I'm doing something on the iPad like typing this message right now, and an email comes in I can pick up my iPhone and check it and never leave this page. All emails are synced on both devices so it doesn't matter where I'm reading it from.
It's not ideal, but it works for me.
Btw, typing on the iPad in landscape is a breeze!