I don't know if they are the best alternative, but I have been using Kobo for over a decade. In that time, they have not shown any intererest in locking down th

I don't know if they are the best alternative, but I have been using Kobo for over a decade. In that time, they have not shown any intererest in locking down their devices. That is not to say they are easy to modify, but they do not use encryption (or any other mechanism) to lock people out of their devices[1]. Anyone with a knowledge on unix and an update file can figure out how to modify the software. The community has also been making binary patches to Kobo's proprietary components for about a decade, and they don't seem to be interested in preventing that either. Some models even have replacable internal uSD cards, should you want to increase the storage. The last Kobo I bought has never been online and runs open source reader software (KOReader) which is much more powerful than any commercial alternative I have seen. There are other options out there that likely have similar qualities. I simply have not used them. I simply wanted to point out that there are much more open platforms out there. [1] I am talking about device level access here. Kobo does use DRM for purchased books and books borrowed through libraries.