"Even if writing your own firmware would be illegal (would it be, really?) " For a radio module I would say so. It's one of the reasons cited by the openmoko

"Even if writing your own firmware would be illegal (would it be, really?) " For a radio module I would say so. It's one of the reasons cited by the openmoko successors from not doing it. Radio devices have to be tested and certified that the device stays within FCC or EC standards. Changing the firmware changes behaviour. "what prevents manufacturers from releasing the code for examination?" Patents, security... I'm sure they have their reasons. "Accompanied by the fact that Google gets to do their mining on your data, Android looks just a little more open, compared to iOS." Not if you use your own ROM or root your phone and stop all Google applicatons.