One missed opportunity regarding the educational value is that it is a shame they used some BGA chips instead of more soldering friendly package. People then could learn how to mod these by swapping RAM or other components or training repairs. Sure you can do BGA as well, but it may be too intimidating for a beginner and may require special equipment.
Do non-BGA chips exist at the performance level they want? I was under the impression that nobody was manufacturing such things, in which case the pi foundation probably can't do anything about it.
You are correct. Unfortunately I can't see any comparable chip in a package other than some kind of BGA.
edit: that makes me think if they could release something less capable but in more friendly packages? That will probably not have enough market share to be viable.
Yeah, AFAIK the general thought is that if you're doing something sophisticated enough that you want a good processor, then you clearly have to be a huge manufacturing operation mass producing these things on an assembly line with all the proper equipment, in which case you actually prefer BGA. The only people who want easier to solder packages are hobbyists, who are unlikely to ever make a dent in the market (sadly).
