> the 970 isn't really a SOC.

Yes, it's no SoC at all, not even a very basic one like the PA6T with its integrated memory controller (and Ethernet).

> Hyper Transport...like AMD uses.

Yes, and HyperTransport is already used by the CPC925/U3/U3H to connect to the PCI(-X) bridge in the currently supported AGP-based G5 PowerMacs.

> The only reason I have heard for the delays related to 3.10 revolve around
> the code that had to be replaced.

So I guess there's no "IF" to the X5000 support in MorphOS 3.10 :-)