To prevent its unlicensed use, the software contains activation enforcement technology. Because the software is licensed for testing use only, you are not licensed to activate the software for any purpose even if it prompts you to do so."
I don't question the possibility to test IE (under the limits they present).
The strange (or interesting) part is this "even if it prompts you to do so" not that they don't give you the license. You get the software that tells you something and you're not allowed to click what it tells you.
It suggests that the activation software, both client and server side, can't even be adjusted to manage the use cases intended by the release we discuss. What appears to be a software configuration problem (part of which is the 90 day expiration they give) is solved by the license (as in "you are not licensed").
I think part of it is that if they deliberately stifle their own copy-protection, it might make it easier for malware or pirates to learn how they did it and do the same.
I suppose that this is a somewhat stripped down version of Windows, and their concern is that either through bugs or through manipulations people could trigger the activation window in some manner.
Allowing people to activate Windows in this manner would simply make this software more work for the lawyers.
"3. NO ACTIVATION.
To prevent its unlicensed use, the software contains activation enforcement technology. Because the software is licensed for testing use only, you are not licensed to activate the software for any purpose even if it prompts you to do so."