You're missing my point, which is that more books and cheaper books equals more freedom. I'm not arguing against the notion that you should be able to do what

You're missing my point, which is that more books and cheaper books equals more freedom. I'm not arguing against the notion that you should be able to do what you want with something you've purchased. But every business model ever conceived limits freedom in some way, and the echo-chamber argument that's put forth here consistently fails to take into account the fact that ebooks (and the business models that accompany them) have the potential to increase freedom by promoting reading. At the end of the day, nobody's preventing you from buying a paper book; if you want to lend the book out, buy the paper version. Simple.