We have a smaller number of products but more customers for them. We also push out feature upgrades this way. So far we haven't charged for any firmware upgrades, though I think it's a mistake. Some are quite valuable.
Why don't you leave it on the ftp site?
Very interesting indeed. Xilinx has had the hard PPC core for some time, but only on the outrageously expensive Virtex series (used them on the DOD project
- the only ones who can afford them).
Probably negates any savings by going on-chip, too. Hard cores are a better idea than using FPGA fabric, IMO. There are just so many times a small micro is needed that it seems like an obvious match. Apparently people would rather pay for FPGAs than dedicate a tiny sliver of silicon to the processor.