If the chip is getting the job done and it's a fixed-function device, why would one want to spec a more expensive, more power hungry solution in its place? I d

If the chip is getting the job done and it's a fixed-function device, why would one want to spec a more expensive, more power hungry solution in its place? I don't think "minimum required hardware" is a "strange requirement", in fact it's essentially ALWAYS the requirement when developing embedded solutions.