Gilbert wrote:
it may even be possible that if you modify the console by changing the hardwired P2 pad to some other controllers the START button may work too.
Yeah probably it's just the shift register that spits out zeroes instead of the START and SELECT data in the hardwired controller II when reading it. If you somehow connect a controller I (or a NES controller) on the PCB connector START and SELECT will probably work like on an AV Famicom or NES. It would be interesting to add a microphone to a controller I and a PCB connector from a controller II to get a Famicom that has both a microphone and START/SELECT buttons.