I can think of other such scenarios. Others tell me that any application can turn it on whether you like it or not. If your software won't run without the ID, you can get rid of that software and run something a bit more respectful of your rights. For that matter, I can think of ways of spoofing the system with imaginary ID numbers. My guess is that Intel will see the light and bring out a version of the P III without this feature.
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.