Yeah it's usualy how they work. At some point you could do it with a modified custom map for Smash Bros. IIRC before that another hack used that Tales of Symphonia Wii sequel everyone has forgotten ever existed.

On Wii U, they found a way to execute code from a vulnerability in the web browser, so that's convenient. Just go to the right website and you can launch your homebrew installer that will replace the useless "Health and Safety" app.

There was a time you needed to sacrifice a legitimately acquired DS game on the Wii U (Brain Training DS was a popular choice, because it was free at one point. And most people don't care about being able to play that, especially on a home console).

The PS2 also had an aftermarket disc you could buy that crashed the system as necessary to run copied games!

Then I think at that specific time I had an aftermarket flip-top as well so I didn’t have to use the eject button.

Then I got something to override the eject button so I didn’t need the flip-top! I didn’t want to do a lot of soldering to play international games.

Also splinter cell. I still have my modded controller that I added a USB port to for moving saved games via flash drive.