Yoohoo! Silly me, I only did a
sudo chmod +x k3f.bin and then ./k3f.bin. When I entered sudo chmod +x k3f.bin and then sudo ./k3f.bin (I renamed the files to 3 letters, due to ease of use), everything went well. I followed with a sudo ./k3f.bin ./mmc.bin info and I got:
got device serial number <B006somethingsomething>
I: got device Wifi MAC <somethingsomethingBF>.
That is nice and dandy. Now I will try with
sudo ./k3f.bin ./mmc.bin program kernel media/Data/Downloads/kernel.bin
and hopefully I will follow with
sudo ./k3f.bin ./mmc.bin program rootfs media/Data/Downloads/rootfs.bin
P.S. I am typing these full commands not because I am (pick your offensive adjective here), but because someone else in need might struggle with them like I did.
EDIT: Shoot. I was greeted with a
sudo ./k3f.bin ./mmc.bin program kernel media/Data/Downloads/kernel.bin
I: found suitable device
E: opening image for flashing: No such file or directory
E: aborting. It is suggested you power-cycle the device.
I am assuming this has to do with the syntax of the location of kernel.bin. What am I doing wrong? Should it be preceded by a "./" (tried that, too - didn't work). Data is the name of my "D:\" drive in Windows. Downloads is the folder where I stored kernel.bin and rootfs.bin. Crossing fingers and waiting for valuable input
EDIT 2: Moved kernel.bin and rootfs.bin to a FAT32 flashdrive. I assumed k3flasher might have a problem accessing a NTFS partition. It worked! See spoiler for details:
Now performing a rootfs flash using the same method. Fingers crossed that my Kindle will wake up with 3.0.2 firmware
EDIT 3: after 150 minutes of flashing rootfs, my Kindle booted in version 3.0.2! Success! Thanks a ton, howhill!
EDIT 4: Upgrade from 3.0.2 to 3.4 has been successful. Mission accomplished!