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> Because it's a literal hardware limitation. The device is built in a way that requires a wake word before any recording can possibly happen [...]

Take note that Amazon Drop In [1] is a feature built around turning on the Echo mic remotely without a wake word. I don't think this feature could exist if there was a hardware limitation.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=...

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Dropping in causes the Alexa to light up and play a tone, so not exactly stealthy.

But doesn't the device light up when that happens?

I was just offering a counter to the hardware limitation claim. It's possible the device makes itself known during use, I haven't used this feature yet.

And it beeps, and the audio from the other end starts coming through the echo's speaker. There is just about no way to know someone dropped in on you.

But is this behaviour implemented in hardware or software?

This feature is configured via its software.

My understanding is that the light at the very least was hardware. Sound can be disabled.

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