I agree that you should be able to read the books while the Kindle stays un-registered. I asked Amazon recently how to handle a kid with a Kindle (a kid whom you don't trust with your credit card!) and they said to de-register the Kindle so it couldn't purchase, but could still read. I think that will apply to this case as well. But you'll have to read these before you register and buy anything of your own, cuz they probably will disappear then.