Very different. That you don't see this says your perspective is extremely skewed. I'll say it's no different from an iPhone when Nokia actively attacks attempts to gain root access.

I did specifically say I didn't care how easy gaining root was... but my caveate was that everything be on the device.

Shouldn't need an external device to gain root to my system.

I guess... running a series of commands that a user can copy/paste into a terminal is easier for me, as a helper, than trying to walk the user through R&D mode. It requires too much handling on their end and too much to go wrong.

Copy/paste, and then maybe a way to disable root when I'm done with them, and their device is fixed. Simple and efficient.

But I appear to be the only one that cares.. so I'll just drop it.

I didn't say Nokia was no different than Apple. I said using R&D mode is no different than Jailbreaking an iPhone.. and using rootsh is no different than rooting a G1. (Except that I think google patched that particular hole. But, in my case, I rooted G1 with a simple app I loaded on my phone. Didn't even need a computer.)

ETA: I guess I fell in love with a fantasy.. I wanted a device that gave me control... not that I'd have to force into submission. There's already plenty of those.

Let me politely points you what everybody wants it. Vote to return red pill or you will get a root access from everybody.

I didn't say gives me control even though I have no idea what I'm doing....

How is R&D mode like jailbreaking? The flasher is provided by Nokia and the functionality is documented. You don't need R&D mode normally to get root access, it's only needed in that obscure usecase you're bringing up.
How is using an exploit that google is trying to stop the same as installing an app that is perfectly legally for download in the extras repository provided by Nokia.

You have 100% control over the device, save some drivers as far as I can remember and some crappy built-in apps that are easily replaced with FOSS solutions.

On maemo 6 there will be a drm-mode, but it will be perfectly optional and the device will be 100% functional if you don't want to listen to drm media or install drm apps.

You can't get more free and in control than that. Maybe only if you build the device yourself.

@ColdFusion
You do have an argument that flasher is provided by nokia, and iPhones is not provided by apple. But this goes to the fundamental ideologies of the respective companies - I don't speak negatively about Nokia.

However.. having to connect the device to a computer, use a flasher utility, flash the device with a specific something - is the same for jailbreaking the iPhone or RD mode for the N900. The end-user process is nearly identical... except that at least the iPhone one is a GUI I think .

And what do you think rootsh is? It is a hack. It takes advantage of the fact that the Application manager runs as root, and then creates the necessary files to enable the user to run as root. It is, in fact, an exploit in the way the system works.

Now.. because Nokia doesn't care about it is an excellent argument for why Nokia > Google > Apple.. but not the N900 > whatever. They are all exploits.

If it was an official nokia package.. it would be in there by default.. which is what I'm asking for.

Nokia cares about it. They want it to be there, they just can't handle legally or financially or w/e, for it to be official.
And it's different than android in the sense that like you said, google already patched their exploit.

Like I said R&D is not the normal way to get root, it's only useful in that scenario where you can't install anything.

I consider that article to be inaccurate.

By installing an application to grant root - You are in fact "unlocking" the device.. because, without the application, what is it? Oh that's right.. locked .

Probably, from Nokia point of view you are exactly in this position...