If you bin based on tolerances, you kind of have only two options: either also bin chips that meet tolerances in order to satisfy demand for the lower-binned chip or introduce a separate parallel chip alongside the binned ones that actually targets their specs (which you would still have to bin downward).
It's scummy and inefficient from an obvious human perspective to intentionally cripple a superior product in order to target a cheaper market, but that's the natural result of market actors being incentivized to maximize their own return, they don't really have any reason to care about the human side of that argument.
> or introduce a separate parallel chip alongside the binned ones that actually targets their specs (which you would still have to bin downward).
you know, I hadn't actually thought of that. If you did this, presumably it would involve the cost of setting up another manufacturing line, (colossal), and you'd _still_ have binning issues. Presumably the tolerances would be looser however; if you can build within 5% power usage of X, you should be able to _easily_ build within 5% power usage of (x/2).
It's scummy and inefficient from an obvious human perspective to intentionally cripple a superior product in order to target a cheaper market, but that's the natural result of market actors being incentivized to maximize their own return, they don't really have any reason to care about the human side of that argument.