riz@boogers.sf.ca.us said:
> Now, all I have to do is hack X so that it doesn't refuse to start if
> there's no mouse.

There is an -allowMouseOpenFail option (modulo capitalization).

> and the ps/2 mouse device doesn't get configured
> if a mouse isn't found at boot...

Perhaps there could be a "force" or so config flag, but
generally the keyboard controller is not designed for hot plug,
and in particular one can't tell whether there is a mouse port
at all if no mouse is connected.

best regards
Matthias