Why the hell make it with a microprocessor when something simple like brightness levels and simple blinking patterns can be made with much simpler digital electronics without the need for any programming whatsoever leaving the whole hacking-issue out of the equation.
Because you could design all of those feature in analog, and make custom boards for every change or have one board you update every few years based on supply, cost, and maybe power performance, but make and adjust features on a minute by minute basis if want to.
The driver, power source, etc can all be more easily separated from the logic too. It could be tiny, or massive. Same software, same controller.
Why the hell make it with a microprocessor when something simple like brightness levels and simple blinking patterns can be made with much simpler digital electronics without the need for any programming whatsoever leaving the whole hacking-issue out of the equation.
Because you could design all of those feature in analog, and make custom boards for every change or have one board you update every few years based on supply, cost, and maybe power performance, but make and adjust features on a minute by minute basis if want to.
The driver, power source, etc can all be more easily separated from the logic too. It could be tiny, or massive. Same software, same controller.