Re: "What will it take for Amazon et al to create their own, secure CPU?"
Probably a wholescale redesign of the instruction set. Ditch the reliance on X86 based instructions, ditch compatibility with 32 bit software, and design a brand new instruction set based on 64 bit architecture. If you did this, you would design a processor that makes board design simpler, cheaper, and simply get rid of all the page spaces that cause so much of the problem.
Digital did it in the lates 70's with 32-Bit VAX architecture, and tried to upscale this to Alpha. Thats died the death, because it was expensive, and eventually wasn't able to compete. Others tried, and fell, as the WinTel juggernaut rolled over all in its path.
It would take a major investment by IBM, Intel, Motorola or AMD to build a new platform. That is a LOT of money and it would take decades to get market penetration to the point where it started to pay back.
But I agree, it is probably what is needed.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
