[sigmaprimus]

I think most people are assuming that the user breaking this device is the owner and therefore don't see the potential threats this hack realizes.

A perfect example of how this could be a problem would be the modification of a utility providers smart meter. The home owner hacks the firmware of their electicity meter to show a 10% reduction of power consumption.

Im sure there are several more applications of this exploit that would allow end users who are not the owners of the hardware to make it a threat large enough for manufacturers to consider using a more secure device.

[mindslight]

It's easy enough to tap into the service ahead of the meter. Or if you've taken the meter apart, adjust the analog signal conditioning. And so power companies monitor aggregate usage per neighborhood, and if there is a discrepancy, go looking.

In general most people are honest, most of the others are deterred by stiff penalties, and these issues are kept in check at "human scale". DRM schemes are more likely to be used to erode long-held precepts, rather than being needed to enforce them.