FCC accused of locking down Wi-Fi routers, but the truth is a bit murkier

The government has not been friendly to the rights of the citizenry recently, so a charitable interpretation of their intentions is compromised. In addition they particularly stated that a popular software package should not be installable. Manufacturers are likely to take that as implied instructions. After all, it would be expensive if they were to make a set of modifications intended to comply with the FCC ruling and the result was deemed non-compliant, so they are given a strong incentive to take a quite conservative view of what the instructions require.

As such, I don't feel the "informal comment" about their intentions given at a press conference should be given much weight. What should be given weight is what they actually said to the manufacturers. And that appeared quite unfriendly to user modifications. If they want this to be understood differently, then they need to change their proposed ruling.