Doesn't seem fitting to end the post with affiliate links, after criticizing Amazon for offering ad supported versions of the Kindle.
Is there a version of marco.org "with self-respect"? Do I need to block his ads to get that?
Amazon offers 2 price points, emphasizes the ad-driven one, and somewhat obscures the fact that it's ad-driven. I don't see how that relates to the free (and Creative Commons free content of) marco.org, and the fact that he syndicates ads from a network he trusts there.
If you buy an ad-supported kindle, you'll see ads every time you put it to sleep. If you click an affiliate link (vs a standard link to the product), there is no difference in content at all.
It impacts the time scale. If I click on one of his links and buy a gadget, I get the very same thing. He gets a one time bonus that _I_ didn't pay and the experience is the same (granted, if I want to buy the thing in 3 weeks I'm going to Amazon's site and search/buy it there, not looking up his links to do him a favor).
The ads on the device, however, are semi-permanent and are going to stay with you. You trade _your_ money for things that are shoved in _your_ face.
I don't even understand where a comparison between these things (affiliate links vs. ads on the device) are meaningful..