> For example, the M1 chip can run Linux.

No, not in any useful form it can’t.

And any architectural changes could require another lengthy reverse engineering process rendering these devices unbootable with non-Apple OSes until then.

I would not be surprised if Apple completely closes off the Mac ARM64 platform for “security” in the next few years. The option to boot third-party OSes seems like a short-term gimme to keep the pitchforks and torches at bay.

I make this distinction because this is precisely the issue being discussed.