Totally. That missing front-panel area? That's where the self-destruct device, based on a modified airbag detonator, was located. It was set to go off (along with the shock collar around the developer's neck) if the box strayed more than 50 miles from Cupertino.

Click to expand...

Notice the carefully interlinked scale armor covering the balance of the exposed surface areas. That's gotta be to keep the curious developers out and all that factor inside the case. Spindly plastics too! :approve:

Anyway, I guess one more point about the subject of the OP:

< snip >

... You're right about a "jobber" doing it. The brand name on the case sticker, "CONTEC", belongs to a company that says they've been around for 30 years making industrial PCs. They're undoubtedly the guys who cut the holes. (And probably the ones that stuffed it with parts, per the photolab machine company's specs.)

Click to expand...

Thanks, I feel muuuuch better about having a Win98 ROM HackStation on the workbench for firmware . . . activities . . . [}] ]'>