&gt; <i>I think they should try that. So far they didn&#x27;t - that&#x27;s why they are doing it in software, because they now can.</i><p>I heard it&#x27;s common in computer parts manufacturing - they just add an additional production step where a laser cuts through some traces on the PCB to disconnect the part they don&#x27;t want you to use in the cheaper model. Apparently customers got too good at reversing the softer methods of market segmentation.