> If you build on Intel, you are making a decision that exempts you from competing in the top of market for your products. Your designs will run hotter, consume more energy, have less yield, and lower clock.

Most of semiconductor production is not on the leading edge. Most big SoC production is not even on the leading edge. There's a lot of room for older fabs. And the customer can demand a lower price as a result of lower yield and performance.

> You'll need to maintain and inventory two different BOMs for a critical component

Most of this stuff that is not on the leading edge doesn't have a "leading edge variant".

Of course, I wouldn't build on Intel for other reasons: they've been terrible as a foundry and they have been changing directions seemingly weekly. That is the hurdle that you can't get over: you can't rely upon them as a partner.