how a bout a simple MitM, forcing someone to download what they think is the legitimate firmware when they are not (not that publishing any hash on said would counter that ).

20 minutes ago I was white and gold (pic in 1st link). Now,it's blue and black.
My GF was next to me, and saw the opposite of what I saw.

the nutjobs do not need that, but the provocation expands their recruitment pool.

by the cops, may be with court order!

virtualbox is free!

when it's dead!

what kind of support does a carrier offer exactly?

No it is no old. I have one and it is still working perfectly. Running the latest version of android (thank you CM)

sorry I forgot to quote. I was referring specifically to this

What's more so : there is no publicly "available android update" that includes a patch for 4.3-.
If it were in existence, rebuilding the components is easy, getting them on a "unlocked -as in bootloader- phone" is the challenge. But if the bootloader is unlocked, chances are the user is tech savvy and the device is in "the supported devices list" of some custom android project out there (CM/AOKP/OMNIUM/PA to name few).

these are to diffrent types of locks. One is a SIMLOCK : cannot use any other SIM card, the other is bootloader LOCK (no way of installing anything other than the SIGNED/blessed OS/FIRMWARE from the MANUFACTURER). in regard to the second type some phone are better than others : can unlock the bootloader easily, with provided tools (no need for exploits).
If the bootloader can be unclocked you can always go the aosp/custom way, but there will be a point where that won't work, mainly because of the non opensource components.

in theory it could, but in practice not so much, why? see your second point !

strength in numbers

no need to say more. thank you good sir!

I'm genuinely curious ? what "someone" had his life destroyed ????

ah I see. Because here (Canada), the last couple of years, both SMS and MMS are free (for any destination at all, as long as it is sent from withing Canada)