[madeofpalk]

> * The hard reset definition is sort of dumb. When a device leaves the factory, it obviously doesn't have any knowledge of whom its proper owner is. A hard reset, by definition, has to nullify any owner-verification system and no technological solution can withstand it.

Not really. This is, more or less, a fairly easy problem to solve: Upon first use and any subsequent hard resets, the device phones home to ask to be activated. On first use, the activation server replies with an unconditional 'YES'. Upon activation after a hard reset, the server goes 'Before I answer, can solve this challange' (PIN or username/password).

This is how Apple implemented Activation Lock on it's iOS devices and it's more or less uncrackable.