My ideal these days would be to just buy a license (and I use the term deliberately) and for them to store the content in their cloud and for me (in a Steam type way) to then be able to activate that content on my various different devices.
You don't really want this because the content providers' notion of their "content" will certainly include stuff like those unskippable ads and other crap that drive you insane. With the content stored "in the could" as you propose, there's likely no way around this type of annoyance, and in fact with the content in the cloud they can change the ads, add additional ones, etc. whenever they like. And don't for a minute think they won't try to extract additional money from you by "licensing" you the stream for only a certain amount of time, after which you need to renew, etc.
The Internet is fast becoming what electrical power was 50 years ago: It separates the people who are able to participate in the global economy from those who can't.
50 years ago? Electrical power IS STILL a huge separator today. Many "developing" countries have unreliable electrical service at best, and often NO electrical service to the poorest of their citizens. Added to all the other problems you said, OLPC should have realised that putting a damn computer in the hands of some country's kids is completely missing the point when the kids have probably no electricity, not even basic healthcare, no sanitation, little or no education, and perhaps barely enough food. Forget the computer ---- there are far bigger problems to solve first.
It's an all-too-common occurrence in aviation. It even occurs to big, commercial flights. For example, Eastern Airlines flight 401 (in 1972).
By all accounts his plane was equipped with an ELT and a radio. Presumably he would have used one or both if an engine failure or other mechanical problem occurred and he had some time while gliding.
Anyone can make an omelet with eggs. The trick is to make one with none.