I recon someone needs to create (if it doesn't already exist) a database of phone manufacturers, phone models and phone variants (e.g. carrier specific versions or versions for different countries/frequency bands) and ranking them on how open and hackable they are.

It could include details of things like:
Is the bootloader for the device unlocked, locked but with an unlock option or locked without an unlock?
Has the manufacturer provided a full correct kernel source tree, a kernel source tree that is incorrect, out-of-date, missing bits or otherwise not 100% compliant with the GPL or no kernel source at all?
Has the manufacturer provided any other source code or items that help with running your own Android ROMs on the device or with running Linux or other alternative OSs?
How friendly is the manufacturer towards people wanting to run alternative OSs on the device?
How open is the hardware and software on the device?

And anything else that hackers might want to know.

Such a database (if kept up to date) could really help people who want a hackable phone but don't have an easy way to tell which of the options available to them (or affordable to them) will be the best choice to buy and which manufacturers and phones to avoid.