Erik,
OK, thanks for the explanation.
Spartan 2 today is based on a very mature process, and the sequence is 'don't care', and the power on surge is within the specifications clearly outlined in the datasheet.
The Spartan 2E is a much better choice, and is based on the "EA" shrink (hybrid .18/.15u process), and also has no 'sequence issues', and an even smaller power on requirement than Spartan 2.
'Sequence issues' for any Xilinx part all relate to their use: what happens when you plug them into a live bus, anbd what do you expect to happen while you power them ON, OFF, or do nothing. The support through the web technical answers detail all that stuff.
Some parts are more hot plug friendly than others, and none sustain any damage to themselves as long as the absolute maximum voltages and currents are adhered to.
Very few people in your situation are designing boards that are going to be hot-plugged, and even fewer care what happens when you do. For those who do care, we have a full range of documented proven solutions.
Xilinx admittedly does not cater to the home hobbiest, as we don't see much revenue from that source. I am happy to see Xilinx FPGAs being used for software defined radios by amateur radio hobbiests (being that I have the call sign AB6VU, and I am also very interested and involved in SDR for our commercial customers).
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I am sure that must be tough going, but most hobbiests realize that buying exiting development boards (like the Spartan 3 student Digilent pcb for $99) is a better choice than trying to etch your own pcb's in the sink.
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We do cater to Universities and Schools, as training generations of engineers (since 1985) to use our parts is a very viable business decision. Perhaps stepping on board with those suppliers (like the one mentioned above) is much easier.
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Austin