[cushychicken]

You're right - MII and it's derivatives are fairly standard. I agree that the MAC -> CPU interface is the root of a lot of the complexity that the author writes about. However, that still sort of serves to illustrate my point: the software to interface with the MAC is the chunk that introduces the most variability. Standardize that and a lot of your problems are solved.

Integrating a bunch of analog/digital/vice versa fabric onto the same die is not a tenable solution to this particular issue. I'll admit the concept is mildly intriguing, but I think you'd find quickly that the silicon demands for a DAC/ADC of the quality needed to emulate any high speed waveform are a little out of reach fab wise. Too much space, not enough drive speed.