In more general terms, might an overall solution to DRM hardware be found? I keep thinking there's got to be a way to route around all of the embedded chip tricks, be it in printers, cars, coffeepots, litter boxes, etc. If the answer isn't technical, it'll have to be legal. As tiny chips get cheaper, this will become the norm if we let it.

There can be no general technical solution, because it's a continual arms race of DRM and anti-DRM. As you say, it would have to be legal.

The EU did legislate against DRM in print cartridges, I believe, although I can't find a reference other than http://www.geek.com/chips/eu-bans-clever-chips-in-printer-ca.... While looking I discovered http://www.therecycler.com/posts/etira-lobbies-eu-commission... which implies they're about to break the cartridge recycling system entirely by conflating it with the WEEE electronics recycling system.

DRM is a disturbing trend. In the future everything will have DRM...

This was just posted recently....