Just a thought with regard to ARM hardware. Don't most Win7 slates on the market have an ARM alternative that runs Android? If that's the case, that means that manufacturers are already providing two different versions of the slates on the market: amd64 and arm; and, that means that manufacturers are already making special modifications just to provide to both markets.
Given this information, why would it not be possible, even likely, for manufacturers to continue to do this with Win8 and Android? Have slightly different hardware and sell both. Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you run a more hardcore linux on an android device? I believe I've seen an original G1 running ubuntu (not a hardcore linux, but moreso than android).
I think it's besides the point that there are alternatives. Locked down hardware should be universally frowned upon, no matter who is trying to control it - whether that's Microsoft, Apple, or anyone else. It's downright sickening to see this being accepted at all. There are no - I repeat, NO - valid reasons to lock down hardware. It's anti-competitive, it's malicious and most of all it's an affront to Freedom. I also find it quite sad that people (with RMS among them) predicted this years, if not decades ago, and people called them paranoid.
We need to fight this. Do not buy locked down hardware. Boycott businesses and corporations pushing this. Tell the hardware suppliers that you will not take this. Use free operating systems and hardware whenever and where-ever at all possible. Pursue other people to do the same.
Finally, disregard laws which forbid you to circumvent, render ineffective or deactivate these kinds of restrictions. Spread ways to do this if you can, anonymously. Once information is out there, it cannot be subdued again.
Given this information, why would it not be possible, even likely, for manufacturers to continue to do this with Win8 and Android? Have slightly different hardware and sell both. Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you run a more hardcore linux on an android device? I believe I've seen an original G1 running ubuntu (not a hardcore linux, but moreso than android).