Re: "...[Acorn] imploded..."
>'x86 has much better code density than ARM.'
Whether that is true or not is only somewhat relevant. Even if the code density is higher if it takes a lot more chip real estate to implement the instruction set and it can only be implemented somewhat efficiently its still going to use more energy and run hotter which is exactly what you want to avoid for mobile (and in the datacenter as well). From what I understand x86 is such a dog for mobile even emulating puts Intel at such a disadvantage it took them a herculean effort to finally even compete wtih ARM (and still not in ultra low power last I heard). What they are finding though is competing with ARM is not like competing with AMD. The payoff are not the type of margins Intel is used to.