So, could this mean that one could theoretically wire a MicroSD card directly into ethernet plug and with some voodoo harness PoE to create an ethernet plug with busybox on it?
You can theoretically use something like [1] or [2] to connect the SPI bus to an ethernet controller.
[1] http://www.mouser.com/new/wiznet/wiznetW5200/
[2] http://www.asix.com.tw/products.php?op=pItemdetail&PItemID=1...