So, What's the Problem?

Not All Modern CPUs are 32 bits!
ia64 is LP64 -> ints 32 bits, longs + ptrs 64 bits

New Archs MUST Track New Kernels, Toolchain Revs
ia64 used gcc-2.96, hppa used gcc-3.X
2.2 vs 2.4 kernels, installer issues

Mixing PIC and non-PIC Code at Runtime
a linker issue?  sloppiness is not a virtue!

Not All Platforms Have All Features
serial consoles
no sound hardware, joysticks, etc