Updating the firmware manually to 3.13.1 really is painless. Just download the version appropriate to your Kobo from this thread:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=185660
And follow the instructions in the third post. I updated my Aura HD (using the Glo/HD firmware) to 3.13.1 so that I could have the in-book statistics for non-Kobo Kepubs.