It might keep the SPI happy... but does it would have to communicate full packets to the master micro so that the checksums and byte counts check.... what did he gain out of writing his own loop?
Also, is it legal to have custom circuits on the OI? I never went to the FIRST school of law. If it is legal....
I wish they had a higher current capability on the +5v supply though, don't suppose you could run much of anything anyhow, but a Nanowatt series microchip micro should be ok.
-q