Quote:
Originally Posted by DuskyRose
So, I think KU is an iffy thing, and a lot depends on the author's skill.
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This is exactly why I have not used KU as Amazon probably intends. I have subscribed to KU many times - always when on sale or as a freebie with a Kindle or Fire tablet purchase. In all the times I've subscribed to KU, I can count on one hand the number of books I have read. Instead, I use KU as an "extended sample" of books. I will read enough to determine that I like a book, then I will mark it on my "to be purchased" list and return it and get a new KU book to sample.
Because I always leave my Kindle in airplane mode to prevent firmware updates (and other things), I always got my KU "samples" via Download and Transfer. Now that Amazon has blocked that, I have no use for KU, even if on sale or as a freebie. Additionally, the "to be purchased" list I have built up over the years may well become useless as well - if Amazon follows up as we all anticipate, and eventually doesn't allow Download and Transfer for purchased books.
While I don't like what Amazon is doing, it's really only a minor problem. The vast number of KU books I have sampled do not make it onto my "to be purchased list". And less than 1/3 of books on this list actually end up being purchased (as I later reevaluate my reasons for putting them on the list, or I decide I want other books more).
I can understand why Amazon might want to disable the Download and Transfer for KU books. It bumps me out of using KU personally because of my airplane mode mandate, but I understand why they might want to do it (to prevent piracy of "loans"). However, I cannot agree with any reason that Amazon may spout for disabling Download and Transfer from purchased books. So far they are only doing this for books published in 2023 and beyond, but we all know that is just a diversion to soften up customers for the blow that is coming - disabling it for all ebook purchases. At that point, not only will KU be useless to me, but so will Amazon ebook purchases.