how can you be sure it has a firmware?
it can be an FPGA, or even sillicon hard.

I work with this device and it boots up without any kind of ROM or firmware upload.

In this case, would you like the VHDL to be open?
If that's the case, why not ask intel/AMD/... to release the VHDL for their current lineup?

if you aren't allowed to take the hands off the wheel, you can't drive stick (unless you stay on first gear all the trip).
I guess since all yanks drive an automatic geared car this is no problem