There are two ways to set up the unit:
A) Lying flat increases the upper end by about 4cm: this keeps stable
B) set up the device widthwise edge: this holds generally stable, but not so that you could for example let it on the train stand alone, this would probably fall (hence the star deduction)
There is no way this "Diary pocket" the equipment of lengthwise edgewise set up.
The price of about 35 is not exactly very cheap, but you get a quality product, which is expected to hold out "a few years", as long as you properly handle it.