Apple IIgs Virtual Hard Disk Project - Thoughts/Different Approach?

[IUnknown <stevementzer@gmail.com>]

The discussion regarding the 'virtual hard disk' for the IIgs had got
me thinking a bit.

I would say that the vast majority of entry-level IIgs 'hobbyists'
have a computer with a single 3.5" and 5.25" drive. They aren't going
to throw down $100+ dollars on a CF, SCSI or IDE adapter to get a
decent amount of fixed storage. They likely have a PC or mac sitting
there next to the IIgs ...

What would it take to get the IIgs to boot via the serial
connection ... as cheaply as possible?

Both the IIgs and mac/pc have a serial port (one could be added VERY
inexpensively to a mac/pc).

Lets say that someone (read: me) were to develop a simple 'block
device' host application that would run on the mac/pc that via some
serial protocol served up a 'virtual hard disk'.

After some research, it appears that while Appletalk allows the IIgs
to 'boot', this requires special hardware on the mac/pc host (or in
between) to properly decode the signals.... this is a total non-
starter since we are trying to keep this thing low cost and using
'modern' standards..

So, it would seem that without creating a 'card' with a ROM that sits
in slot6/7 that contains the firmware necessary to operate the onboard
UART, we are somewhat dead in the water.

However, would it be possible to 'fudge' the IIgs to boot up a
'bootstrap' disk via the 3.5" drive, which in turn installs some
'firmware' at $C700, which in turn initializes the UART, and resumes
the booting process via the serial connection?

Is it possible to circumvent the IIgs firmware/boot sequence such that
it can operate entirely from software?
Is it possible to even write to $C700->$C7FF, or is it even necessary?

I guess what I am trying to avoid is requiring NEW hardware .... if a
user could download a disk image, which in turn would boot the IIgs
via a 'virtual hard disk' which is really just a serial UART emulation
of a block device it would be a panacea.

I am not a hardware dude, but I am an applications programmer....
and I know that implementing host software via a custom serial
protocol wouldn't be too difficult. The question is whether or not is
is possible to leverage it on the IIgs without requiring new hardware.

If this is incredibly stupid or naive, please speak up and I will go
back to my hole....