...and the crap has hit the fan :'(

...maybe you could ask if it is possible with an original HDD? They might have said impossible if you don't have the original HDD, but possibly possible otherwise... just stabbing in the dark here...

EDIT- Also, it would probably be best to ensure it was really scrapped. I'm sure you know how there can be ...lets call them... "disconnects" between tech service/PR and what is actually going on.

"Hey Dorris, We get rid of the ROM Flasher?"

"Yup, scrapped it a few years ago."

(While the ROM dumper is really sitting in the back storage area...)

EDIT - I'm nearly positive there is a way to re-flash it now. If a machine could do it, then that means it is re-writable. All we need to do is find the write enable lines and make a programmer board. Which, example dougg3, is quite possible if one knows their stuff.* Our advantage being we can test it on any Ole WS/PDQ cpu board, since they are designed to be the same.

Since the software can write it, It can't be too hard. I'm guessing the need for an apple drive is because it somehow stores the BIOS on a disk cache and loads it to the new CPU card... otherwise, I can't figure where the ROM would be to allow it to boot... thoughts?

*not to imply that I have anywhere near the skillset to do something like that...