I wonder if consumer routers will end up being built in a trivially-not-a-router configuration - something akin to a pull-tab or turn of the screw that closes a circuit, transforming the device from legally something else into a router after it's purchased.

What a dumb timeline.

"this here is a virtual network appliance, so called because it doesn't have any ports on it - wait, why are you taking off that blanking panel? That's illegal!"