@gray >There is a fully open router distro called LibreCMC
LibreCMC is a fully free version of "Open"WRT designed to be free, rather than being "open".

>there was a point where the various FCC type organizations required manufacturers to lock down there firmware so people can't screw around with the radios in the devices.
This is untrue.

The FCC has added some more braindead requirements about restricting radio functionality, but there's nothing in the requirements that requires implementing such restrictions with proprietary software or digital handcuffs.

The restrictions could be implemented purely in hardware (what would actually be somewhat effective at achieving what the FCC wants), but every single manufacturer has decided to go with proprietary software obfuscation instead.

>OpenWRT wouldn't work on anything if they didn't use the blobs.
I know of one or two devices that "Open"WRT supports with images that don't seem to contain proprietary software, as it seems that such devices don't require such.