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Here are a few experiments that should be done:
1 - zip up kfx and ancillary files for a 'DRM free' book and put them on a device registered to a different account. Does it load up properly? (I believe I saw that someone has checked that this works with devices registered to same account) If yes, then there is no DRM worth that term in the way (and since publishers have chosen 'drm free' books, expectation has been set that it is demonstrably drm free in exactly this sense).
2 - apply standard reverse engineering techniques. Do byte patterns reveal any known compression and or encoding artifacts? It seems unlikely that they'd develop something wholly proprietary or 'uncrackable' (see point 1) just to frustrate Kovid. Rather it is probably something they found more efficient and reliable than alternatives, given the requirements.
3 - someone should apply the same amount of effort to cracking what can be found on Fire tablets (and of course do the 'DRM test' of step 1). The layout of files is different, much different. May be harder, or may be easier. Or maybe comparing side-by-side will reveal some design intent and other clues.
I can't do Kindle investigation without buying a new Kindle, which I have no plans for at the moment.
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