AFAIK not even Google could get Intel to share the source code on their chips in order to make some of their Chromebooks. If Google can't do it, I doubt a handful of "GNU extremists" are going to change their minds.

If Intel said, "needs to be open source or we'll find another supplier" then it would become open source.

Unless the current supplier is the NSA.

Agreed. But it has to rewritten, that takes some time and costs money. It's another barrier preventing Intel to chanige their mind about it. But in the end it would be open source if Intel changed their mind.

I think someone has to leak everything, Snowden-style, although with all the increasing "security" that could be a bit difficult... nevertheless, if someone does decide to be a hero and do it, I fully support their efforts.

Unless this leak revealed that the NSA forced Intel and AMD to include ME in their chips to advance their mass spying efforts such a leak would be a crime. Snowden's case is different since he was revealing info that Americans (or their reps) have a right to know. The intelligence agencies are building a mass surveillance infrastructure that is prima facie not compatible with a free country and almost certainly a violation of the constitution. The constitution and amendments do not directly apply to Intel and they are free to do whatever they want and we are free to buy or not to buy as we see fit.

TBH, I think there is a lot of focus on this ME technology and I see no reason that at some point someone is going to crack the model or the encryption and reveal exactly what it is doing and how to disable it.