It doesn't just phone home to China. The company actually refuses to comply with the GPL because of "anti-China sentiment" and closed down their support forum when people got angry (https://www.reddit.com/r/RemarkableTablet/comments/hsyigm/on...)
Because yet another Chinese company flagrantly flouting a licence is really going to help with that situation…
I was considering one of their devices. I am now not.
Seems like just cause for a multinational import ban. This is flagrant law breaking and theft.