[semiel]

It actually seems clearly the opposite to me. This approach uses standard tools and methodologies for which there are already experts. Asking Apple to write new firmware has the potential of software bugs and similar unexpected issues.

[ins0]

I agree with you. Writing a custom firmware on the device is on the same risk level as desoldering the chip. In both cases it would be a smart option to test this approaches on a different device first.

[dlp211]

The difference is that one of those options is nearly completely reproducible, the other requires humans to deconstruct a device which introduces more chances for things to go wrong.

[bryanrasmussen]

yeah, so if Apple writes a new firmware upgrade (in a couple years from now) and the device has something in it's configuration that in conjunction with a new bug in the firmware ends up bricking the device... I wonder what then.