>>> The Soc Hepler is quoted as mentioning that would provide backward (Amiga)
>>> compatibility

>> Can you point me to this mention?

> Its not a direct quote, so it could be hearsay.

Interesting nevertheless, as I don't remember I ever heard of this before.

> From the documentation it looks like the PA-RISC cpu was incorporated primarily
> to be a video controller

The video controller is the other chip of the Hombre chip set. The functions of the two individual chips are as follows (according to Hombre_Presentation_part_1.pdf, pages 11/12):

Nathaniel:
- RISC Int. Core (MMU/Cache)
- Blitter/Renderer
- 8-bit DMA Interface
- Audio Processor
- CD-ROM Interface
- PCI Bus
- Memory Copier
- Copper

Natalie:
- Line Buffers
- Cursor Ram
- 512 x 25 CLUT
- Framegrabber
- Genlock
- YUV -> RGB (MPEG)
- Mouse/Game Cntrlr Intf

> and that in higher end applications additional processor would be used.

Yes, this has been established in comments #3 and #8.

> If that second cpu wasn't another PA-RISC processor, the entire platform begins
> to look kind of messy.

Yes, that's what the last sentence of comment #3 refering to Haynie's statement was essentially about. Fortunately, this newly emerged documentation of Dr. Hepler's clears that mess up.