Well it could be misdirection but id argue that they have better ways to spread misinformation than doing it on exactly this OP. Also they most certainly dont

Well it could be misdirection but id argue that they have better ways to spread misinformation than doing it on exactly this OP. Also they most certainly dont want people to speculate if they use such methods or not, especially on possible stock hardware on a large scale, therefore I dont see much logic in that scenario. What we do know thanks to the Snowden files is, that they indeed install stealthy espionage equipment in seemingly uninteresting components (by intercepting mail orders for example). Not just to monitor keystrokes, etc but also to manipulate the PRNG (looking at you power converter). The fact that some of those destroyed components are actually related to espionage relevant parts (such as keyboard, touchscreen, etc), rings some alarm bells at least. Maybe they were indeed afraid that the systems were compromised but if so, why only destroy specific components and not just the whole thing? Its top secret material after all and the protocols for safely destroying it are ridiculously strict. How could they be sure that there are no further compromised components which might survive? The way I see it, I would tend to your first scenario.