Why don't Garret and APR just re-program the existing chip like Neuspeed & ABT instead of...
 

Soldering a new one in?

Wouldn't that clean up and solder problems, bad connections, and make it more stealth?

Just seems to make more sense in any case...?

yeah, if you want to let your dealer accidentally program it back to stock, or you don't want added
 

features, and you'd like other tuners to be able to read your programs.

I'm just speaking of the APR chip, which uses and encryption board, a method to avoid accidental programming, and EMCS to allow added features.

Check their site and read about all of this stuff and you'll then ask "Why don't the others do this?"

because APR's chip is double-encrypted for their protection. Previous codes have been copied.