:-)

   I always used to hear about the dangers of side-channel attacks when
   hand-implementing core algorithms.  I was looking for a discussion of
   this but didn't quickly see it.  I'm always curious of the spark
   emissions of each transistor flip, and how they would interfere, couple
   into nearby long wires, etc.
   I'm noting that the experience of doing a personal implementation may
   be worth much more than possible side-channel dangers, and of course in
   a ratchet protocol keys change fast.  I wonder if makerspaces have
   FPGAs nowadays.
   I'm jealous of bunnie's confidence of the well-known facts that nobody
   needs any authorisation to build something like this, that it is
   totally safe to do so, and that people really appreciate a lot such
   work and how it helps them protect themselves and their communities.
   I'm afraid I've never played with via padlock assembly myself.