I think it depends on what you want. You only need to do the SQL lite thing if you want to be able to access the store and overdrive, probably a few other features.
If you don't care about any of that, you just open the .conf go to the [ApplicationPreferences] section and add the line
SideloadedMode=true
Then you're good to go. This worked on my Kobo Clara BW and my old Libra h2o (which I miss so much).
If you want to keep going from there then nickelmenu, koreader.
Wait though, why is the offer not valid in MN? What's the law there?
Edit: ok, I looked it up. They passed a law in 2014 that if your sold more than $5k worth coins in a 12 month period you have to do a bunch of registration paperwork with the department of commerce. Want to guess why? Predatory Sellers with limited time offers, high pressure tactics, heavily marked up coins, you get it. What a coincidence.