I have a hunch (and only a hunch) that Sharp is quiet about the Energy Star workaround because what good is energy star rating if the user can turn it off? And even better if they publish the instructions in the user manual? I would imagine some arcane pencil pusher at DOE decided that Energy Star compliance means that the whole processor needs to be off - including the communications port. Go figure.

I am sure my friend Alan and I will agree for once that this is just a case of the government sticking its hands and business where it doesn't belong.