> Intel peripherals is true today, but wasn't really true ten years ago.
Absolutely. Linux was a nightmare to get properly working then. Trust me, I remember. You essentially bought hardware that you knew was going to work. You couldn't buy anything just off-the-shelf and expect it work.
Same problem with mobile.
> So my real question is why do the old drivers have to leave the tree or at least become perma deprecated?
Because Google keeps messing with the kernel? Which is fine, they have to move the platform forward.
> Is there that many breaking interface changes for which drivers cannot be mostly mechanically updated?
Most drivers are closed source. You only have binaries. This is truly unfortunate. So if the manufacturer of the component doesn't release the source (almost never happens) or a new device goes on the market with the same component and updated Android (almost never happens), you're stuck in a very unfortunate place.
Even the slightest change will break everything.
> I know this is a problem that the kernel devs managed just fine over the years
No, they didn't manage shit. They hacked. Hacking takes effort and time. Nobody wants to spend time on old hardware.
> I'm not asking for them to conjure up someone to magically do extra work to support my device ..
You are asking that because ...
> I'm asking why they don't change their process such that this extra work is unnecessary in the first place.
Absolutely. Linux was a nightmare to get properly working then. Trust me, I remember. You essentially bought hardware that you knew was going to work. You couldn't buy anything just off-the-shelf and expect it work.
Same problem with mobile.
> So my real question is why do the old drivers have to leave the tree or at least become perma deprecated?
Because Google keeps messing with the kernel? Which is fine, they have to move the platform forward.
> Is there that many breaking interface changes for which drivers cannot be mostly mechanically updated?
Most drivers are closed source. You only have binaries. This is truly unfortunate. So if the manufacturer of the component doesn't release the source (almost never happens) or a new device goes on the market with the same component and updated Android (almost never happens), you're stuck in a very unfortunate place.
Even the slightest change will break everything.
> I know this is a problem that the kernel devs managed just fine over the years
No, they didn't manage shit. They hacked. Hacking takes effort and time. Nobody wants to spend time on old hardware.
> I'm not asking for them to conjure up someone to magically do extra work to support my device ..
You are asking that because ...
> I'm asking why they don't change their process such that this extra work is unnecessary in the first place.
... this isn't possible.