This is an interesting discussion, first it’s true that they implemented a p-code variant called q-code.
Second I’m just making a distinction about what people refer to as emulation. Although you could change the microcode, that typically meant you had to reprogram the board. Microcode is typically inaccessible outside of the cpu. Microcode provides sub-operations within the cpu.
just to be clear, the microcode instruction set is not a p-code variant, and in the case of the perq, the microcode memory was volatile memory that had to be loaded on every boot, and could easily be loaded with custom microcode. you didn't have to burn new eproms or anything
i don't think we have any substantive disagreements left, we're just getting tangled up in confusing, ambiguous terminology like 'native' and 'emulation'
Second I’m just making a distinction about what people refer to as emulation. Although you could change the microcode, that typically meant you had to reprogram the board. Microcode is typically inaccessible outside of the cpu. Microcode provides sub-operations within the cpu.