Such decoding logic might actually be detectable by something like differential power analysis, thought it could be excessively difficult if someone really want

Such decoding logic might actually be detectable by something like differential power analysis, thought it could be excessively difficult if someone really wanted it hidden. I suspect that really keeping it out of view would also cost both silicon and propagation delays in what would probably be some of the most critical paths, but then I'm not a vlsi engineer, or whatever the correct title would be :)