Every Kobo reader is capable of running KoReader ( http://koreader.rocks/ ). That's the first, and probably last, step I'd take to render a book that the default reader takes issue with.

As I understand it, KoReader doesn’t work with drm protected books which means I can’t use it with most books I buy.

Ebook producers really should be forced to either drop drm or adopt a cross-platform standard.