Right, I totally understand your Hex F1 is solely a mechanical change. You state that a software mod could do similar or better. In my mind (and that's a deep dark place that even I avoid) the ultimate would be a combination of the two. Mechanical mods to improve line pressures, spring changes, opening up (drilling), etc and any beefing up that can be done given typical available parts (not including custom parts). The electrical/software mods to improve transmission strategy for things such as the crappy shift timing, RPM points, etc.
I agree that the programmer (he better be a damn good software engineer) must also be a transmission expert and quite possibly a electrical/hardware engineer of some type. IMO, if the ECU can be cracked, so can the TCU. It's going to take someone above me to do it! Our problem stems from demand. All it takes is enough demand from a group for a company to invest in the R&D to do it. That or a talented and dedicated DIY'er from one or more of the occupations above.