It's good to have an internet connected computer on hand, and I haven't been in a situation in decades where that wasn't the case (even if it was just a mobile

It's good to have an internet connected computer on hand, and I haven't been in a situation in decades where that wasn't the case (even if it was just a mobile device for looking up documentation). Yet there is a bit of a difference between it being a good idea and it being required. There is an even bigger difference between it being required and requiring equipment from a particular vendor. Requiring specialized tooling should not be required for replacing a modular component. I understand that this case involves the security chip, but surely Apple would be able to implement a solution that is integrated into the system's firmware. Macs are already capable of connecting to a wireless access point to download and install the operating system via the Internet[1], so this seems like a reasonable approach. [1] At least they had that capability when I purchased a 2012 MacBook. I'm not sure if things have changed since then.