Awesome information once again.
I installed HotSpotShield and there haven't been any problems so far. I may check out the pay-as-you-go services later on, but for now I think being able to use a US IP is enough.
Google's ebook store looks great, and even if I get a Kindle I'll probably end up buying more of my books from them than from Amazon and just converting them. (I don't really like some of Amazon's practices - i.e. the terms they demand from publishers, the closed format, their whole fight with Macmillan - and I think it's best for the publishing industry if Amazon's power shrinks.)
Anyway, one more question: any idea how safe it is to enter credit card information while using hotspotshield? Is there any reason why I might need to worry about that?