>>31
Yes I'm well aware of the sarcasm. It's the principle that I'm after. No source code, no control. If you want your computer complete BIOS in < 2 seconds, you have to program it to do so. Current general purpose proprietary BIOSes have code that supports booting the CP/M operating system and all sorts of other outdated legacy checks. It was time to get rid of that support in 2000 but they haven't.
As for the technical issues, so what? Why do I have to work out the hairy bits myself. Why not hire someone else that is skilled enough to do it for me? I'm sure that there are plenty of comp. eng. grads. that would love to get my money for performing services that use their skills.