[adabaed]

What part of "Tool for work" you don't understand? If this helps me make money, why would I buy a 200$ cheaper Windows/Linux machine? Am I more free with a Windows/Linux machine? Seriously? We can go all the way down if you want, does Intel/AMD/ARM let you see the code?

[saladuh]

The AMD microcode, running on my computer, isn't going to lock me out of my computer. You don't get full freedom with that microcode in the free software sense, but that's besides the point in this situation. At the very least that AMD microcode isn't going to (purposefully) lock you out from logging in to your TTY, because it wasn't designed to do that. At worst, the microcode will be so faulty that your PC won't boot (and that, hopefully, wouldn't be by design).

What's happening on your Mac, however, is by design. Apple designed the software to do that, and they get away with it. That's the difference.

If my AMD microcode started doing that, the whole world would be in uproar. Because, at least in present time, present day, they're not able to get away with that. Same applies to Intel and ARM. But Apple does.

[emsy]

That’s a naive take. The intel ME is also there „by design“ and is equally capable to lock you out of your machine. And as long as only a small number of users are affected, they would also get away with it. The average customer usually doesn’t care about other customers problem as long as they’re not affected.