Julian stared at the screen. If he forced the registration using a bypass exploit, he could brick the phone remotely. Apple would see a "Locker" device popping up on a public-facing portal and wipe it instantly. The "buyer in Tokyo" would lose a priceless piece of hardware history.
: While the Unique Device Identifier (UDID) was previously the primary method for registering developer devices, newer models often require the ECID for registration in the Apple Developer Portal. Registering and Finding your ECID
This wasn't just a prototype. It was the first unit. The primary validation device for the entire production line.
The metadata attached to the ECID didn't list a factory in China or India. Classification: Security Level 5 - "Locker" Device.