I don't think this is actually true. I have a bunch of obscure music in my library that isn't "matched", and while it is transcoded to AAC, it doesn't have DRM

I don't think this is actually true. I have a bunch of obscure music in my library that isn't "matched", and while it is transcoded to AAC, it doesn't have DRM in it and can be downloaded and played on a second Mac in VLC or IINA.