Been down that road, and also building from scratch when the prices
warranted it ( things change a lot and sometimes the bare bones is the
better option, sometimes getting individual parts ).

Main issue with this EUFI secure boot is the pre-loaded systems that
most folks buy with Windows already installed. MicroSoft have long
wanted to prevent anything other than Windows being used on PC's and
EUFI has provided the ideal tool for them it would seem. Currently
they say they have no plans to insist on secure boot being locked in
with Win8 on the desktop / laptop - but as ever, what they say and
what eventually happens isn't always the same

As you say - if Win8 does eventually come with a locked EUFI then it
won't be long before it's cracked open and then the whole point of
locking it will be lost.

BTW - how prevalent is the BIOS targeted malware ?? Not seen it at all
in the 9+ years of fixing up PCs !!

FD> On the other hand ,an increasing number of suppliers ,incl in the
FD> UK, are now supplying desktop/laptop PCs without an OS installed.