[iforgotpassword]

> There's already been enough instances of various hardware vendors using very nefarious means to extend the capabilities of their devices and peripheral device drivers.

Sadly enough I think this is a good point. You could say it's the same as saying closed source software and operating systems would be better for that reason, which I wouldn't agree with at all, but this would feel somewhat different.

You would have to force GPL like sharing of modified firmware, but it seems much more involved to verify this on a vendor to vendor basis than say, finding that Lenovo ships some nefarious Windows software preinstalled. As an enthusiast you can just reflash after purchase to be sure, but the average consumer might suffer.

It sucks but the only real solution I see is to just remove these things altogether again.