It's e2e encrypted, so what could they do if they were evil? (honest question)

You can choose a custom donation and make most of your money go to the EFF. Then the top tier is just like a €24 donation to the EFF and you only really "pay" €10.30 for the actual books.

Or anywhere in the EU. And I don't think the USA is more lenient on piracy. But perhaps they are if a big company is the one doing it.

That's is how things used to work here in the Netherlands, until the EU forced us to change our laws in 2014:

https://globalfreedomofexpression.columbia.edu/cases/aci-adam-bv-and-others-v-stichting-de-thuiskopie-stichting-onderhandelingen-thuiskopie-vergoeding/