> This happens in other markets just fine, one that springs to mind is oscilloscopes. Often you will find that a the hardware in one model is the same as the hardware in scopes in the same "family", what differs is software / locks set.
There exist quite some makers who solve this "oscilloscope tiering" by installing a hacked or alternative open source firmware on the oscilloscope.
My personal fav (while not a scope) is the Flir hacking years ago (Not sure if they have locked them down since). Things like converting a Flir E4 to an E8 via software alone (and vastly improving the resolution) https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/flir-e4-therma...
There exist quite some makers who solve this "oscilloscope tiering" by installing a hacked or alternative open source firmware on the oscilloscope.