It turns out that tinkering with parts should not be a crime.
When did it turn out? It neither 'should' nor 'should not' be a crime, objectively, that I can see.
Neither of those are crimes, so why should modifying a game console be one?
You can't kill or speed without large and noticable external signals, such as a speeding car or a dead/missing person. You can also target shoot and race on private tracks.
You can pirate video games without any significantly noticable events, and there isn't much else you can do with a chipped console.
Video game piracy has more justification for legal blocks earlier in the process.
I know folks who have a chipped XBox, primarily to run XBMC (XBox Media Center). This isn't pirated software at all, it's open source. But it's a great way to get media off a home server and play it on your entertainment center. The hacking of the box is only because of MS's locking out 3rd parties.
When did it turn out? It neither 'should' nor 'should not' be a crime, objectively, that I can see.
Neither of those are crimes, so why should modifying a game console be one?
You can't kill or speed without large and noticable external signals, such as a speeding car or a dead/missing person. You can also target shoot and race on private tracks.
You can pirate video games without any significantly noticable events, and there isn't much else you can do with a chipped console.
Video game piracy has more justification for legal blocks earlier in the process.