Too bad Linux has removed Execute-in-place (XIP) support for RISC-V since 7.1. It allows to run the kernel (and applications) from NOR flash directly, without copying it into RAM first. Somebody should reintroduce it.

Espressif's port use 6.18 due to this exact reason. There's also another port, using 7.1, not sure if it supports XIP.

https://www.phoronix.com/news/RISC-V-XIP-Being-Removed

XIP is almost essential for these low-RAM devices. You can run Linux with 8 MB RAM with reasonable functionality.