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set up the device to wipe itself after $x number of incorrect attempts. keep giving the wrong password after every whack from the wrench. then you have plausible deniability. "how can i possibly think straight when you keep hitting me with that wrench?" just need to make $x a value small enough that you can survive the wrench.

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No good, it is already standard for forensic teams to clone and checksum a hardrive before attempting to look through files. The clone is sent to evidence and any password attempts will be made on a copy. The "original" copy will be kept safe and any number of passwords can be used against nth iteration of copying the clone.

Isn't this the purpose of the secure enclave on iPhones? Taking the drive away from the secure enclave makes the drive useless and the enclave only allows a few password attempts.

This is exactly this. It also allows a weak password (4 digits PIN) to de ok. The enclave which holds the actual encryption keyd will refuse to hand them over if the right trigger is hit (too many attempts, too high a rate,...)

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