I'm still a bit confused. So.... You are telling us that that there are a few options like:
- AR9331 radio is locked and nobody really know this because it gives fake readouts
- AR9331 is operating at >18dBm power after changing REG but it gives fake readouts and nobody know its "true" tx-power
- AR9331 cannot go >18dbm because factory limit
Which of these is closest to truth? Because in every YT video of MKV there are "two powerful unlocked radios" and now we have one powerful unlocked radio and one 10x weaker...