operaguy, you may be confused about the GI. Not sure I interpreted what you said correctly, but w/o placing lights the default of the usual distant light might not be on anything so no light, of course black render. The other thing you described is just a preset wizard, they probably did not include many presets w/ demo. The GI is listed in a section in the render room (ctrl+r)Any option under the global illumination turns this on. Make sure light thru trans is checked at top and in the GI section.I did try the demo myself when it came out and I don't remember GI turned off.

No need to think outside the box....
    Just make it invisible.