As of my current device (the Oasis), no, it does not appear to be this promiscuous. I can't speak to the analytics, but the whispersync and book downloading doesn't work unless you explicitly connect it to an AP.
> if the developers take the egregious step of nerfing airplane mode,
and I was responding that IF the developers decide to nerf the airplane mode it's very possible they will start using any open AP; some TV's are reportedly doing this already