[hilbert42]

Hyperbolic or otherwise, it happened and I remember it well (it changed my purchasing decisions at the time).

I'm aware of most of those details as I took a keen interest in the matter at the time. I'm also aware of the argument for the use of said algorithm.

Whether one adopts this approach or not is philosophical argument and I just happen to believe it's bad (and ugly) engineering - and in this case witnes the outcome, it cost Intel dearly in both monetary and PR terms.