With RMS 1.3 and the dongle, you could bring up a POS station when the dongle wasn't operational and run in "evaluation mode" for 60 days. With the new licensing structure and product key required in RMS 2.0 this is not possible.
In case of system failures, you should be able to bring up an alternate POS stations for 24-72 hours without needing a product key. In 99% of the time, this would allow you to repair failed system and never need an additional product key. If you can't repair the system, the "emergency window" (especially a 72 hr one) would give you plenty of time to orderly put in a replacement system and get a new product key.
We have been told that all you need is to have POS installed on the backup system, and when necessary, call MS to get a key. If you have a customer standing at your register, you don't have the time to say "please standby while I call Microsoft in order to activate a backup system" - this is not good business.
Many of the users of RMS are small businesses and can't afford an extra license (or annual support charge) to cover themselves for just such a situation.