Here's a pretty good article from the NY Times that highlights why, and why not, to buy the iPad Air 2. The reviewer says the Air 2 is the fastest, thinnest, most powerful tablet ever made, iPad or Android. The question is, Do you need to spend $500 or more to meet your tablet needs? There are plenty of less expensive models, including last year's iPad Air for $100 less, that meet most people's requirements.
And do you really need a tablet at all? Between a smartphone with a large screen and a laptop computer, most people's needs are covered.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/23/t...i-3-review-one-thumb-up-and-another-down.html
In my particular circumstances, I prefer a tablet to phone and laptop for 90% of my computing. And my 2 year old iPad 3 is getting long in the tooth. So the iPad Air 2 is looking attractive. My wife has her iPhone with her constantly. If it were waterproof, I bet she would take it into the shower. She doesn't use a tablet except to play a game or two. So a new iPad is not on her Christmas list.
Buy her a lifeproof case, she can be covered in the shower too...