@nprofile1q... x86 is something I know very well. I don't see how mere opcode set is the problem. Coreboot is supposed to stop ME. How does it not.?
I am more interested in more private and secure systems and software. We don't have to go backwards in capability to do that. All for the good fight in depth as long as the perfect doesn't become enemy of the actually pretty good or at least much better.
2 GB of ram is worthless for most everything today So not an option.
32 GB is good. I don't buy machines except ultra portable laptops with less than 32 GB. And for small laptops nothing less than 16 GB. My physical machines are kept too busy for less.