[fpgeek]

Android devices have similar failsafes (e.g. recovery, fastboot mode), but since they're part of the infrastructure that validates that you're only flashing authorized changes, you are often working around them when you modify your device.

[cdash]

Which is exactly the problem, the fact that you have to work around them to begin with.

[hrjet]

Which means that the barrier placed by Android manufacturers is artificial.