[walterbell]

> The bottom 5 don't really need updates

Anything connected to a network requires security updates. The bottom five require network connectivity.

> Slow as molasses for the content

An old tablet isn't suitable for general Javascript-impaired web browsing, but there is a wide world of static online/offline content accessible to slow web browsers, as well as bespoke static content delivered via HTTP.

> Whole lot of work.. for almost no gain

The heavy lifting work is in device enablement, but that's a one time cost. Applications exist, work on other devices and are already maintained. Linux iPads would only expand the userbase for those applications.