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Blind speculation: I wonder if this is in some way related to DRM getting broken at a firmware level, leading to a choice being made between "users complain that they can't watch netflix" and "users complain that they can't install custom ROMs".

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It was because a method was discovered to bypass the lockout of stolen devices.

In other words the same old boogeyman they always use to justify this crap.

From what I understand this does not prevent use of custom ROMs, it just means ROMs built before it was done will not work anymore. I assume they can re-package old versions to work with the new configuration, I am not entirely sure though. There are discussions elsewhere in this thread with more informed people.

it just means ROMs built before it was done will not work anymore.

From the article:

Any subsequent attempt to install older firmware results in a permanent "hard brick" - the device becomes unusable

This implies that not only does an older custom ROM not work, but neither does attempting to recover by installing a newer ROM.

Oh damn I missed that detail.

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