Related
It's too good to believe:
ftp://ftp.clubimate.com/PDA2k_WWE_14000_176_11200.exe
I'm downloading now.
Tom
39.6MB (their server is really slow today)
From i-mate site:
The details of the new ROM image are:
For the Worldwide English Build:
ROM version: 1.40.00 WWE
ROM date: 03/10/05
Radio version: 1.12.00
Protocol version 1337.42
ExtROM version: 1.40.176 WWE
I think they waited until the pros on this site figured everything out first...then they just piggy-backed on their findings. Kudos to the real pros on XDA-devel!!!
tom
How to install this rom in Spanish Qtek 9090, i'm new and y don't now very well to change the language.
Thank you!
imate update
I just got the update from the I-mate site and am working it with the XDA tools but I'm getting a checksum errors on the radio, NK, and MS filles. Should I be using a different tool? My device is a MDA III T-mobile german flashed to english. Any Ideas???
Downloaded, installed and running. No problems....yet. I can't find a config file in the extrom in order to make some changes, but there's a setup.exe file now. Not sure what that's about.
No idea how to change the language...I'm not good enough to know that.
More later.
Tom
So far so good. A couple issues. 1) the phone off (or flight mode on) is no longer activated by the Call End button. Shame...I loved that feature. 2) I have a problem turning the phone on (flight mode off) after a soft reset. I think it may be caused by the Contacts Button addin. The only way I can turn on the phone is to go into the keypad and then turn it on. All other methods cause the system to lockup.
Tom
Temporary copy...
Until someone puts it up on xda-developers / cooks it,
a MUCH faster loading copy is at
http://www.myehud.com/BlueAngel/PDA2k_WWE_14000_176_11200.exe
Ehud
Great!!!!!
I'm downloading it right now!!
i-mate finally released it after 1000's of unkept promises!
FINALLY!!! Here's to hoping it will be better than the Qtek version!
Again, I would like to ask why there is no config file??? I take it setup.exe has the config file built in? If any of the pros can give me some feedback as to this, I would appreciate it. I'd like to drop in several cab files incase I fubar something down the road.
Thanks,
Tom
P.S. almost 6 hours and only the "turning on the phone" problem.
yes... config is missing...
will try out some combinations .
skype is taking 3.8 megs... i don't need it there.
sunish said:
skype is taking 3.8 megs... i don't need it there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ture...true. Skype was fun the first couple times, but with VOIP at home, I really don't need it anymore. Still, kind of cool to show people...if you have someone that you can connect to.
Tom
Tried some combos, including, using the old config and setup files... nothing wrorks,
only thing is that any additional file found in ext rom is treated as a carrier customization file, and on selecting one file , that particular file will be installed..
also, i noticed that there is one config file in the windows directory.
Just take the Autorun.exe and config.txt from another rom, add in the cabs from the i-mate rom, and there you go.
Yeah, I will be removing Skype ASAP myself. I can understand how it could be useful, but for my purposes, it just takes up space.
The Setup.exe is way better then the config
Leave the setup the exe it is better then the config. with the config you have to site the and write a line for each cab file. the setup.exe automatically runs every cab file in the ext rom. whether you put it there or not. So when cookinh your extended rom no need to keep having to change the config.txt. The setup will run whatevers there.
You can find this new ROM at ftp upload folder hope MDAIIIUser can move to wiki , I will upload ext.ROM by tomorrow
TheLastOne said:
Just take the Autorun.exe and config.txt from another rom, add in the cabs from the i-mate rom, and there you go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried that , removed setup.exe , copy old autorun.exe and made new config file,
but didn't worked out..
Re: The Setup.exe is way better then the config
MarcValme said:
Leave the setup the exe it is better then the config. with the config you have to site the and write a line for each cab file. the setup.exe automatically runs every cab file in the ext rom. whether you put it there or not. So when cookinh your extended rom no need to keep having to change the config.txt. The setup will run whatevers there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do I need to keep autorun.exe ? If yes, then which one old or new?
sunish, I can not imagine why it would not work. You must have made a mistake somewhere.
The WMP10 close problem still exists, which leads me to conclude that it is indeed a problem with the 1.40 CE Rom, and not something within the Extended rom muddling it up.
Has anyone seem any actual improvements with this rom over Qtek's? All of the same problems still to be in place. The extended rom has a few different (but unimportant) cabs, but that's about it.
MarcValme, I'm not so sure I agree. One of the good things about the config.txt file is that you can specify the order in which the cabs install, which does actually make a difference in a few circumstances. Food for thought.
TheLastOne,
Don't know / Can't figure out where is the problem.
No combination is working for me.
Maybe will try it again after a day or so.
Right now, after unhiding the Ext ROM, I'm installing all the programs needed by me manually.
One thing that I noticed is the increase in speed... The performance is somewhat better now...
I just upgraded to the beta T-Mobile 2.24 ROM. I upgraded from the custom 2.17 by xelencin. I avoided the tmo customizations from installing but have a couple of questions. Is there a way to extract the custom cabs from xelencin's ROM (i.e. the Tmo Network Customizations) that get installed in the Extended ROM or is this something I would have had to do prior to upgrading. If not, is there at least a place I can locate the Certification_Disable.cab separately?
I have a feeling that the answer is that I would have needed to somehow extract them from my MDA in the Extended ROM prior to the upgrade. If so, I am not opposed to going back to the 2.17 or even his new 2.21 ROM but can someone point me on how I can access the Extended ROM to get the cabs if I install his custom ROM?
gilbreen said:
I just upgraded to the beta T-Mobile 2.24 ROM. I upgraded from the custom 2.17 by xelencin. I avoided the tmo customizations from installing but have a couple of questions. Is there a way to extract the custom cabs from xelencin's ROM (i.e. the Tmo Network Customizations) that get installed in the Extended ROM or is this something I would have had to do prior to upgrading. If not, is there at least a place I can locate the Certification_Disable.cab separately?
I have a feeling that the answer is that I would have needed to somehow extract them from my MDA in the Extended ROM prior to the upgrade. If so, I am not opposed to going back to the 2.17 or even his new 2.21 ROM but can someone point me on how I can access the Extended ROM to get the cabs if I install his custom ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The quickest way for you to get at the cabs would be to install Total Commander (free file manager..search for it via Goooooogle) on your device. Then type "\Extended_Rom" in the path bar at the top. Don't do anything with the files you see there other than copy them to a folder somewhere else on your device. If you try to delete or otherwise modify them you will corrupt you extended ROM (not a big deal, but you'll have to soft reset to fix). Once the files are copied elsewhere you can have your way with 'em.
Something I've never understood is installing a ROM clean without the Ext_ROM cabs....from reading through the posts, it looks like the cabs can be installed later, but will those cabs go into program memory instead of the locked/hidden extended ROM? Wouldn't I be better off letting the Ext_ROM do its thing so I don't waste precious program memory?
Is there any way to uninstall a cab from teh Ext_ROM without a hard-reset? I know deleting files out of the Ext_ROM corrupts it, but these progs don't show up under "Remove Programs", so I'm thinking I'm stuck with them. Guess what I need to do is create my own Ext_ROM without the cabs I don't want?
I think I hit my question limit for one post, so I'll end it now...
jorge_culv said:
Something I've never understood is installing a ROM clean without the Ext_ROM cabs....from reading through the posts, it looks like the cabs can be installed later, but will those cabs go into program memory instead of the locked/hidden extended ROM? Wouldn't I be better off letting the Ext_ROM do its thing so I don't waste precious program memory?
Is there any way to uninstall a cab from teh Ext_ROM without a hard-reset? I know deleting files out of the Ext_ROM corrupts it, but these progs don't show up under "Remove Programs", so I'm thinking I'm stuck with them. Guess what I need to do is create my own Ext_ROM without the cabs I don't want?
I think I hit my question limit for one post, so I'll end it now...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a bit of a misconception regarding extended ROM. Most of the cab files there only set registry and provisioning settings. Very few actually install anything to the device. Extended ROM is about 10 megs in size. Whether it's full or not has no impact on your useabable space.
Unlock Extended ROM
But what should I do when I need add new programs to extended rom. My Extended ROM is write protected
Re: Unlock Extended ROM
Marko-z said:
But what should I do when I need add new programs to extended rom. My Extended ROM is write protected
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should do a search on Wizard extended ROM unlocking. Here and over at buzzdev.
gilbreen said:
If not, is there at least a place I can locate the Certification_Disable.cab separately?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would also be very interested in this. I have a Wizard that has the T-Mobile 2.26 ExtROM, which, needless to say, does not have this file. I don't really want to reflash the ExtROM just for this file. Could someone post it or point me to a place that has it?
Thanks!
Marko-z said:
But what should I do when I need add new programs to extended rom. My Extended ROM is write protected
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
best way to add files to the ext rom without corrupting your ext rom is this..
Make your own with the files you want, then flash that ext rom... To learn how to do this you better start reading the millions of threads on here
Found what I wanted...
Well, I seem to have solved my own problem. The Certification_Disable.cab file seems to be the same exact thing as Cert_SPCS.cab, which I found through Google. Even if the files are not exactly the same, Cert_SPCS.cab has the desired effect: it removes the prompting when installing unsigned applications.
Since I bet other people need this file too, I am attaching it here (remove the .zip). I am not positive about the origin of this file, but it sounds like it was included in the ExtROM of the Sprint PPC6700 (Apache).
Hello people,
I gave this short title to this topic because... I'm simply having troubles. Troubles upgrading, syncing, translating.
I have a Qtek2020. It had WM2003 installed. Had, because I finally managed to install WM6.
But let's go by order.
Some days ago I found this awesome fantastic forum full with binaries.
I have some experience with ROM flashing with various devices. I also did upgrade my OS several times on my 2020. And I decided now it's time for WM6. Many people here said it works, and I wanted to upgrade too.
I'm Italian, so you would understand that I prefer using an Italian OS. But I first wanted to install English WM6 to try it out.
I downloaded TofClock AKU 0.7 and tried to install. But then, the first troubles.
I could no way upgrade my device on my home PC, which runs Vista x64. When I put the device in bootloader mode, the upgrade software returned error 101.
So I tried to do the upgrade at office, under XP SP2 (x86 platform), and everything gone fine.
OK, you would say, you got your new fresh OS. I actually don't have musch to complain about TofClock: I really say BIG BIG HUGE THANKS to the genius that did it!
But here's another problem. Still at office, I could no way sync my PDA on ActiveSync 4.5. Windows didn't install the driver properly.
I came back home: as I said, I run Vista x64. Fortunately, Vista downloaded a driver from Windows Update and the whole thing worked.
OK, you would say. You even got your sync relationship at home.
But now that I saw it worked, I wanted to install an Italian version, maybe even cooked a bit, so I downloaded both the Kitchen and the Microwave for m0dding and translation. The firts thing I tried was the Microwave I found at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=334421&highlight=italian+microwave
I followed the full tutorial literally but I had the following problems:
There was no dump directory. Only dump.src. And dump, filled with tons of files, was required
There was no nk.nb file
There was no 800401-OS.bin file, required by other parts of the batch script
I tried on my Vista x64 and I also tried on a XP SP2 Virtual Machine on my desktop PC. Same result. I found another tutorial. I will probabily try it, but I'm so confused now. Why am I the only one who can't translate his ROM by following literally a tutorial?
Can somebody help me? Maybe with an already-working ROM for Himalaya that I can flash by myself?
At this time, I'm trying to connect my USB cradle to my Virtual Machine using USB over Network, because if I want to do this at home I have no other choice than using XP x86.
Meanwhile, I ask you help with translation. Please! I just need to run it in Italian. I will take care of Kitchen and all the mess that comes with customization later. I only need Italian now, and I need to be able to upgrade. I still have 15 days (by now) of trial license for USB over Network. I could even share my cradle with somebody that is able to do the upgrade remotely, because, as far as I know, if connection breaks during upgrade and the process fails, the Bootloader mode prevents the PDA to become another brick in the wall and the operation can be still tried again.
I will leave my MSN Messenger contact on my profile. You can find me everytime but business days/hours.
Thanks in advance.
I'm sorry, but the Microwave is for HTC Wizard only, you can not use it for Himalaya.
Download the Himalaya kitchen, find Italian *.dll.04xx files or extract them from the free Microsoft Italian WM6 emulator. Use the quick and dirty way to create Italian ROM as described in
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=311078
success
I tried that tutorial (still in Virtual Machine). I had error "file temp\dump\imageinfo.bin already exists" when clicking the green arrow in Kitchen. I tried both Anichilius and TofClock's Kitchens
[Add]: I'm trying with HyperCore. I'll let you know
Anichilius kitchen is for Hermes, not for Himalaya
Tofclock worked on several devices
Hypercore is Hermes as well
Get your facts straight before trying to cook a ROM or you'll brick your device
Unfortunately I'm no expert in ROM cooking. It's my first time here. I don't know about the differences between the devices.
As far as I know, most of the Kitchens carry the same program: BuildOS. I found the problem running it. I'm trying to learn everything now by reading the forum.
I dumped TofClock's ROM (OS ver. 6.0) using ImgfsToDump and got all the files. I dumped WM6 Emu too. I found that TofClock ROM doesn't carry the *409.mui files that are inside emulator's ROM, like explained in the tutorial. So when I renamed the files from 410 to 409 and copied them I didn't actually overwrite anything.
Running BuidOS, which is a script that comes with every kitchen with no modifications (I didn't binary compare the files but I think it's the same script), so it doesn't seem to be device-specific, I always got the error "File temp\dump\imageinfo.bin already exists". I tried to find out the reason by reading Hypercore documentation. And it seems, as I thought, that the files I want to build are in conflict with the original files. I tried to understand why. I'm not sure about it, but by the hex address I saw around in the dump files it seems that the ROM is not organized as a file system, where every file is dynamically allocated and indexed in a file table, but they are allocated to raw memory address somehow.
I don't know why. For example, if I want to cook a Windows XP setup CD with my own bootloader I have to simply burn a CD with a modified ntoskrnl.exe file and here we go every XP installation from now on shows my ugly/sweet face (choose the best that suits)
As far as I know, apart from obvious size limits that vary with the device, there's a new limit in ROM cooking: I can't copy&paste files. I thought that the BuildOS script "simply" packed all the files into the ROM rebuilding the file table, adding checksums and other info according to the ROM format (which I don't know), and maybe I'm wrong.
[Add]: I have been trying to get in contact with slumpolo, which is very expert in Italian ROMs. Meanwhile, I read on that tutorial one of his replies: he said that not all ROMs have MUI files. So TofClock doesn't use MUI (btw Windows Vista does, but that's other things), but WM6 emu does, and that may be the reason why they are not compatible.
I know Himalaya devices are a bit "ancient", but I wonder if there's another ROM than TofClock to work on. I may try with it.
I wouldn't like to ask "can somebody [with big big experience] do the translation for me?". I would like to do it myself, but I need tools and knowledge. I think I already got the tools...
There is already a great Tofclock WM6 AKU 0.7.0 especially for Himalaya. Download it from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=331637
and the Xplode Kitchen Tutorial. This kitchen has all files and registry hives extracted and nicely organized. So you don't need to dump them yourself.
Of course you will need the emulator dump. Keep folders well separated and organized.
It does have all the 0409.mui files. If you use the quick and dirty method of simply renaming your mui files/folders to *.0409.mui and overwriting the original ones, you should get a fairly acceptable result. Not perfect, the emulator runs an older version of WM6 than the one in the kitchen. If you want perfect, you'll have to spend a lot of time...
Your big "WHY" question: Intel X86 architecture is very much different than the ARM/Xscale architecture. The ARM is a child from the Acorn RISC processor. So operating systems for X86 and ARM are very different in structure as well. But if you want your pretty face on the Hima bootloader screen, it can be done, search the forum for "splash screen"
Hima is by no means "ancient", it is still one of the best HTC designs ever. All right, the newer models are lighter, have beter cameras and some even 640x480 and a "modern" price tag...
Don't worry, I won't offer to do the translation for you. I'm still trying to create the perfect Dutch ROM.
We talked about the same Kitchen. I tried it too in the beginning. But now I found something more. Many of the 409.mui files in this Kitchen are in subdirectories. So I could simply paste them there and find no error in BuildOS... Maybe... I'll let you know.
BTW the face thing was a joke: I already know how to change a bootscreen and I will do that as last thing once the ROM is stable and Italian.
About the "perfect" ROM, I can accept the challenge and spend some more time on it once created the BASIC Italian Rom, at least...
And I said Hima may be "ancient" because my Qtek 2020 is more than 3 yrs old
Cya 2moro
In desktop PC's I consider 2 years old the equivalent of stone age, I'm really surprised that this hardware has such an enormous life span. I even believe we've yet to discover the full potential of this little beasty.
Lol.
By the way, here's the thing I wanted to show you.
The files in Microwave directory are the dump of emulator, while the files in Work directory are from TofClock.
So I "simply" have to match directories while pasting emu files into TofClock after renaming
djechelon said:
So I "simply" have to match directories while pasting emu files into TofClock after renaming
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simple, as long as you're concentrated. Because in the Quick and dirty method both directories have identical names, I once started dragging and dropping in the wrong direction, overwriting Dutch with English...
Next pitfall, some files point to one another
a.04xx refers to b.04xx
I use Ultra€dit to search inside all these files for the string 0413 (dutch) both in plain ASCII and in Unicode. Do not automatically replace, watch in the hex editor if it's actually a string, not a piece of code.
Now edit initflash.dat using a good unicode editor (like ultraedit) and take care to save as unicode. Do not allow the editor to convert it into anything else. Take care that there's only one initflas.dat in your kitchen, the edied one, and not for example an autogenerated backup (Ultraedit can do that...)
Read cooking tutorials on how to edit initflash.dat
Add OEMs (see cooking tutorials)
Cook, burn, test
I think you're going to tell me that the ROM I managed to cook now won't work until I manually edit each single MUI file against 410 pointers... Actually I forgot to paste initflashes.dat, because when i pasted the whole directory I always found out that the names were correctly translated! Yea, just because I pasted it.
I'm gonna use TortoiseMerge to compare initflashes.dat from emu to TofClock.
Fortunately, I can make as many mistakes as I like because if I brick the device I can reflash it using Bootloader mode with a working ROM (which I'll jealously keep on my hard drive in more copies ).
However, I was unable to flash under my XP SP2 Virtual Machine. I'm trying again under Vista, else I'll have to do it at office where it worked last time...
It's really harassing, but it's a fascinating world I'm exploring.
Brick
Oh finally I bricked my device!!!
Hahahaha. OK I managed to build my first Italian ROM but, as expected, the device got stuck on the Windows Mobile logo.
Not bad. I tried a little modification and re-flashed it. Same error. So I gotta restore TofClock original for now... It makes me little sad because I ran in lots, lots, lots and lots of troubles, putting all of my efforts, to build the f***** ROM.
Till my device still lives, I can test as much as I want. By the way, Maggy, I need your help now.
You talked about cross-links in MUI files. I tried to find them. I used UltraEdit and tried to search for "410" (Italian) in the MUI files I renamed into 409, but I can't find anything. I tried with a lot of files, not all files, but no one has cross-links.
Just to see if everything's fine, I'm trying to re-cook the TofClock ROM that came with the Kitchen, with no modifications, not even the bootscreen. It's just a check. It's 3 AM now: should I take a nap? I think so...
Anyway, let's get back to my problems. I noticed that both on Vista and XP (btw I managed to cook&flash with Vista so I can now throw the VM in the bin together with the shareware version of USB Over Network that installed me a harassing driver blocking all USB devices including mouse & key if I don't manually disable driver signature...) the BuildImgfs program... explodes!
Well, actually it consumes too much memory. The heap goes up to 1GB before crashing. I think here is a bug in the script: destructors should be called to free memory from unused object ASAP. .NET and Java have Garbage Collectors, which take care of destroying unused object, but it's not the same with unmanaged code like C++ or whatever used to make the program.
I tried to search, but I found nothing (did I say something about a nap...?). I need, if available, a newer version of BuildImgfs that manages memory correctly and doesn't crash. I saw many people having the same problem. I don't add too many packages: I'm even forced to remove Windows Media Player to let it build!!!
[Add]: as expected, the re-cooked TofClock works. OK I'll go sleep now. Promise!
I have just got a 8925 but i want to add some roms to it: ultimate launch, pocket cm, ifonz, & iphone interface. I am not sure of the best way to do this. Should they be added all at the same time, or do i have to add them one by one? Also i am not sure how to unlock the phone so that I can add these apps to the device. I have searched the forums and I haven't found a tutorial for this.
Any ideas?
If you want to be really sure you won't get any problems, soft reset after every installation. This IS overkill, since apps that need a soft reset will ask for one, but it won't hurt you.
Install Kaisertweak first:
http://www.jongma.org/KaiserTweak/KaiserTweak.zip
Extract the zip to your phone and run the extracted .exe from your phone. One of the options found under "Security": "Not-certified Warning". Disable the warning and exit the program (hope you meant this by 'unlocking'). The nag you used to get will be gone.
Good luck!
I think you may mean you want to add some applications and not ROMs? You don't need to unlock your phoine to install applications on them. If you want to flash a different ROM, then you will have to use HardSPL and flash the ROM
Here's pocket CM:
http://www.pocketcm.com/contact.php
Ultimate Launcher:
http://www.ultimatelaunch.de/
As for the Iphone interface, there are plenty of icons floating around, and on the the 'post your today screen' thread on the Kaiser general section, there are massess of info from users on how to achieve an Iphone look to their Kaiser and has links to Iphone Icons
HTC Home customiser is the simplest programme I know where you can input iphone icons and themes to your phone
http://www.pocketemu.com/download4.html
Do i need to hardspl my device to add rom's or can i just softspl?
I suspect you haven't quite understood some basics.
ROM = like Windows. There are 'shipped' ROMs (factory/default/shipped ROMs) and custom ROMs (Dutty/Alex/.../homemade ROMs). You always have 1 ROM 'installed' on your device; otherwise your device wouldn't function (just like a PC without Windows)
CAB = applications. Ultimate Launch, PocketCM, iFonz, & iPhone interface are apps. On PC you need to execute an .exe file (mostly setup.exe) to install an applications. PocketPC's don't work with .exe installers, they work with .cab installers.
Given your posts, I think you only want to install some applications. That means installing .cab files. No need for any ****SPL here.
If you really are already thinking of replacing your shipped ROM, than you WILL NEED HardSPL. But given your explanation I don't think you were planning on doing that.
Hope this clears some things up.
Good luck and welcome...
Can you have more than one rom on a device and just switch back and forth whenever you want to use one or the other?
student174 said:
Can you have more than one rom on a device and just switch back and forth whenever you want to use one or the other?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope and why do you want to switch ROMs?
Dr. Strangelove said:
I suspect you haven't quite understood some basics.
ROM = like Windows. There are 'shipped' ROMs (factory/default/shipped ROMs) and custom ROMs (Dutty/Alex/.../homemade ROMs). You always have 1 ROM 'installed' on your device; otherwise your device wouldn't function (just like a PC without Windows)
CAB = applications. Ultimate Launch, PocketCM, iFonz, & iPhone interface are apps. On PC you need to execute an .exe file (mostly setup.exe) to install an applications. PocketPC's don't work with .exe installers, they work with .cab installers.
Given your posts, I think you only want to install some applications. That means installing .cab files. No need for any ****SPL here.
If you really are already thinking of replacing your shipped ROM, than you WILL NEED HardSPL. But given your explanation I don't think you were planning on doing that.
Hope this clears some things up.
Good luck and welcome...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats a good straight to the point summary
Hi,
I would like to customize a ROM for myself but i would need your advice...
Is it possible to use a ROM (Lets say NRG ROM 2.5), and to customize it (reg tweaks, MMS config, Exchange Server config with password set by default, install some cab and put the registration keys by default....) ?
If this is possible, is it hard to update it ? for exemple if NRG updates his ROM, i also want to be up to date with mine, is it easy to "synchronize", or reapply all previous actions without too much hassle ?
Do you have any links i should read to start a Kitchen ?
Thanks in advance
It might be worth having a search around for SASHIMI. It'll let you collect .cabs and .reg files etc and automate running then after youve flashed a new ROM.
if you figure out how your reg details are kept for each piece of software (in the registry or a file etc.), you can get it to reinstate them after flashing too.
You could DL the latest verion of a ROM, pull it apart and change whatever you like and then flash it to your phone but it'd be a pain for pain version.
Using sashimi, its also easy to update your setup when indiviudual apps and settings change, without needing to reflash your phone and then re-sync etc.
The way I see it, sashimi only really needs setting up the once and then given a tweak when something changes rather than needing to be re-done as with a ROM...the only down-side I can really find is it needs running after a hard-reset, whereas if you cook the changes in they wouldnt (so its no good for 'find or nuke my stolen phone' type apps).
I believe a lot of cooked ROMs include 'User Customization' (UC) which does a similar thing, but i havent used it myself.
Also, I may be wrong, but i think you could need certain details from the original chef before you can pull apart a cooked ROM too (i remember reading about file somewhere in your kitchen, memory fails me though)-and, of course, the chefs permission
Let us know what you try out.
'tunes