Maybe check out postmarketOS if you want the chance the run mainline linux

You could either copy them to the top of your template, or you could take a look at the blockinfile module

in parts of europe you can get some kobos branded as “tolino” - they have the same hardware, but actually run on android

It’s okay, definitely was worth it for me.

But I still think its kinda weird to put out a 400$ device and then say: “here’s full ssh root access, but don’t use it”

no, it is quite fancy hardware, almost a4 paper sized, very thin and with an amazing hand writing experience and pretty good ocr.

Its a good device, but also quite expensive

the remarkable software is proprietary. they just run it on linux and give you root via ssh, but installing anything voids your warranty…