My understanding is that this is going to be similar to the gs4 where there are frankenkernels and frankenroms hacked together to keep our bootloader unlocked. This isn't as reliable as the straight kernel. Correct me if I'm wrong that was just the impression I got.
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This is FUD. You've been misled. Custom roms do not touch unlocked bootloaders or require exotic engineering to keep things that way.
If you've unlocked your bootloader anytime within the past 2 years, you're set. You don't need to do anything. Just don't take the damn OTA. You should be on a custom rom or have already disabled such OTA functionality manually. If you take the OTA, you are screwed no matter what.
There's no frankenkernels or frankenroms. If you want to make a rom based on the update for normal folks who were smart enough to keep their bootloader unlocked, you simply remove the bootloader files altogether from the OTA tar/zip and begin customizing. You can use the stock kernel or compile your own using the source Samsung provided. For the poor souls who are locked down, they are stuck with the stock kernel and SafeStrap. Only thing they can modify is the system partitions they create.
There's nothing "franken" about either approach.
The only people with weird bootloader configurations are those who dipped in and out of OTA sequencing. Maybe their SBL or RPM/TZ partitions are stuck at LF2 or something just as ancient.
Ideally, every binary partition should be at firmware MF1 except for the aboot at LE6. My modem is at ML1 for the hell of it since flashing modems (even from the locked down 4.3 OTA) is safe.
tl;dr The unlocked rom scene is not impacted by Knox or anything OTAs lock down. It exists outside of the walled garden Verizon and Samsung are trying to create.
