I remember that now. It really is frustrating that this is what passes for a really open device in the e-reader space. I would pay a 3x markup easily for the same device running KOReader natively (not sideloaded through nicklmenu after starting up the proprietary operating system) if it would just let me use the device like I own it without authenticating with a 3rd party just to its most basic functionality.

You don't need to authenticate with anything and it's even easier to do since a firmware update - just add a line to the config file:

https://old.reddit.com/r/kobo/comments/mt2f30/how_to_bypass_...

Connecting it to wifi afterwards isn't a problem, to tbe best of my knowledge.

Firmware downloads: https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html