YESSSSSS! Converting it all into EPUB works beautifully! And my lord everything is faster with EPUB -- the pages turn quicker, even, and it loads right-away! Thanks so much for your help!
An aside, however -- is it me, or is an EPUB book's "ink" not as dark as an LRF's? Maybe my eyes are going, but it seems a little fainter than an LRF. No problem tho -- I'll just increase the size of the text!
Which I can do now!
And takes 2 seconds!
Because this horrible longstanding problem has finally be solved!