Please note that every time you update your system software, on a Mac or a PC, you are granting the updater unrestricted access to everything on your computer. It’s a bit inconsistent to get hot and bothered about Amazon’s ability to do this with the Kindle, when companies have the same abilities to alter, delete, and steal your data from your computers, mobile phones, PDAs, etc.

The Kindle is far from unique in this respect.

It’s not in a company’s self-interest to piss off their customers; that’s what prevents abuse in this area. And Amazon seems to be very aware of this.