Please correct me if my rehash is wrong:
Compared to ADE 1/2/3 ADE 4 sends a good deal more data to Adobe's servers (and here is confusion still) for books opened with ADE (with DRM or all), all books in the ADE library, all books somehow linked to the ADE library, all books on the device. The data is send to a new adress, not the one used for DRM with older versions. The DRM functionality seems to be working even with the "new data connection" blocked.
Adobe apologizes for the plain-text transmission, but says all the data is needed for DRM purposes and within the limits of ADE EULA.
Why started Adobe the expanded
data collection?
(1) Big customers briefed Adobe to build up a comprehensive database on ebook/device use, reading habits etc.
(2) Adobe plans to offer his customers new DRM variations for new business models.
(3) Customers asked Adobe to implement new DRM variations for new business models.
My money is on option 3 - in its statement Adobe talks about geo-locking and page-number-restrictions (for non-fiction?). But ...
Please help me to speculate