Most FPGA projects need a processor anyway, usually adding a soft core, but a hard core is superior in area and performance -- though you cannot choose the type

Most FPGA projects need a processor anyway, usually adding a soft core, but a hard core is superior in area and performance -- though you cannot choose the type of core anymore, obviously. I'd argue this is a different scenario because they didn't "sprinkle cores" because they had the area but actually reduced the area needed.