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As other people's responses have made clear, Kobo can't get info you don't give it.
But you can't have it both ways. Either you want services from them (buying books directly, sync functions, updating using sync) or you can live without those services and so you use your Kobo without those functions. Pretty much everything can be done independently of Kobo, just not quite so well, or as conveniently or efficiently.
You can update manually.
You can buy from other stores or Kobo and sideload, keep your WIFI off, and besides Kobo doesn't collect individual book information about anything sideloaded, from them or not from them.
You can organize so much through using calibre.
If you create an account with even a non-existent email, it still works and then you can turn off wifi, save battery and use your Kobo without Kobo ever knowing anything about you. If you are worried about them knowing your IP address from your initial setup, you can setup using a different wifi. Kobo can't share anything about what's on your Kobo, if they don't know what's on your Kobo. The only reason they would know is if you buy and sync from them.
Look, I actually do care about privacy a lot. This is despite the fact I have 0 things in my life that I need to hide. I just am a private person who dislikes sharing info, especially when companies gather and monetize it. I read countless privacy statements that almost no one reads. But I am also realistic and the fact that you as a privacy-conscious person *can still use a Kobo without sharing any real information* is quite important to remember. I mean, in essence, you could use a Kobo like a burner phone. But you have to accept that has it's limitations. Guess what, you don't get the convenience of a iPhone with a burner phone. It's privacy or ultra-convenience, you can't have both.
And try using a Kindle without giving Amazon any info. Good luck with that.
I am frustrated when every one just accepts the status quo. I don't like a world built around "the most convenient", to the detriment of so much else. But to me, there is so much room for shades of grey with a company like Kobo, where you can have convenience if that's what is most important and you can have privacy, if that's what's most important. The amount of things in the world where you have 0 room for different priorities and it is just a black and white choice of yes or no is ridiculous and what deserves any ire you seem to have about this.
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