This is why I think of the N900 as a phone and not a computer. I want my computer to be able to boot from a flash drive or optical drive, to be able to install an operating system from that drive, and to be able to back up every bit of data to that drive. Until I can do that, I tend to lump terminal and root with the old Red Pill mode. Given the choice between limited capabilities and a working phone versus extended capabilities I can't get to because my phone is frozen, rebooting, displaying random characters, smoking, etc. - I know which I'll choose.