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Originally Posted by cgsmom
Just last year Barnes & Noble decided to stop supporting several older readers and they all had wifi capability. I don't see why Amazon couldn't do the same thing.
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Although I believe there's nothing off the table for Amazon, the PR problem with locking out functional devices might be too large for them to want to tackle. There are a lot more older Kindles out there than Nooks.
For end users, there is no significant extra functionality in KFX format that justifies delivering only that format. Without something like a 100% discount on trade-in, Amazon will be hard-pressed to explain why a WiFi-enabled Kindle can't get books any more. Removing the cellular-only devices can be explained by Amazon not wanting to continue paying for service, and in some cases because the cellular service is so old that it is no longer supported by carriers. But all WiFi Kindle devices cost Amazon exactly the same as far as book delivery is concerned, and it can be argued that KF8 saves Amazon money, as the file sizes tend to be smaller compared to KFX.
OTOH, if Amazon gives a free upgrade from a non-KFX device to a similar current KFX device (i.e., Paperwhite to Paperwhite 6, Kindle to Kindle 11), then it would be hard for anybody to complain. I don't see that happening, though, as they are already supposedly losing money on the Kindle hardware sale.