[GeoffR]

Kobo firmware doesn't download Adobe DRM books directly, you have to use an external program like ADE for that. So I don't see how a new firmware that supports the new DRM will affect whether the book you buy will have the new DRM or the old. It will still allow you to read books with the old DRM.

I see it like this:

If I buy a book that has the old Adobe DRM then I will be able to read it with either old firmware or new firmware, either directly or by stripping DRM first.

If I buy a book that has the new Adobe DRM, and supposing I can't strip the DRM, then I won't be able to read the book with the old firmware, but I will with new firmware that supports the new DRM.

So I can't see that there is anything to lose by having firmware that supports the new DRM.

Edit: Personally I will avoid buying any ebooks if I can't strip them of DRM, but that won't affect my Kobo purchases because I can strip DRM from the kepub version if I can't from the epub version. And if my local library uses the new DRM scheme then I would want my ereader to support the new DRM so that I can read the books I borrow.