[danpalmer]

Why should the bootloader come locked? That's restricting freedom isn't it by preventing those without a few minutes to unlock it from having true freedom.

I'm not sure how an unlockable bootloader that comes locked and a signed and verified software only that can be unlocked is actually fundamentally different.

[ceejayoz]

> That's restricting freedom isn't it by preventing those without a few minutes to unlock it from having true freedom.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_liberty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_liberty

Both are "true", to different people. Europeans tend to think our positive freedom to go bankrupt from medical bills is a bad one, for example.

Your freedom to unlock the bootloader and the general public's freedom from having to get a masters degree in cybersecurity to survive modern society are butting heads with each other.

[semolino]

Well, sure: a pre-unlocked bootloader and an offline-unlockable one are not fundamentally different in terms of freedom.

When the user decision to unlock (or "side"-load, for that matter) is required to be authorized by the vendor, though, is when I feel like I no longer have control over my own hardware.

[kelseyfrog]

I'm much more worried about the essential liberty of purchasing high explosives. Of all the hills to die on, why locked bootloaders?