Will, I haven't seen the shrinkwrap license for this Sony DRM'd music. All work is protected by the DMCA, so if the shrinkwrap includes installation you probably already bought into the process. (and as mentioned, the disassembly would be illegal) Courts have routinely held that opening the package is acceptance even though most of us don't read those things.
I could see Sony going after Mark R over his published account. There have been copy protection schemes so simple they could be defeated by holding down a key when a disc in inserted. Publishing the one-key "workaround" has been found in violation of the DMCA.
Your aren't missing anything though. Old IP law with any sense of fair-use runs counter to IP owner motives. We'll either see the courts revise old rights into more of a "licensed per view" arrangement or these new systems will be somewhat restricted. It's a tough situation though. Licenses are the tried & true workaround to fair use. It means we never actually own the product. Why should we be able to make copies of what we don't own? In spite of Betamax, several media companies (Fox, Warner, and I can't recall) dispute there's any legal right to make even a single backup copy, nor do they have to supply economical replacements, and I don't see our representatives voicing concerns about the changing landscape.
I hope this gets more interesting and doesn't just wash over society like a comfy blanket. Unfortunately plenty of consumers will accept anything to enjoy whatever new music/movie/quicken/etc, oblivious to what they're buying into.
Time to retire and become a monk.
