[seren]

As a software guy working on embedded systems, working with HW guys, more often than not the SW is always considered "free" while the cost of the BOM is always scrutinized to the cent.

I am pretty sure in this instance the initial design had a reset button, and someone had the great idea to remove it to gain a few cents.

Be sure that the people working are sure this is a really poor design, but often cost considerations trump common sense.

[bdamm]

My bets are that the firmware developers never had a problem because they're JTAG'd, simulated, or running insecure firmware with a built-in back door, and it wasn't until late in the product cycle where the need was even discovered (likely by a QA team.) At that point, this is the best they could come up with.

[seren]

This could also be possible and more charitable for the poor HW guys I have denigrated, but at some point, someone (Product Manager?) has decided to go ahead with that weird pattern, which seems a bit odd.