So I took my two MacBook Pro's into the local Apple Store to demonstrate the bad firewire issue (I have a 1st gen MBP that works fine and a brand new MBP with the newer FW chip that causes problems). I brought a Presonus Firebox with me because it's bus powered and class-compliant (no drivers needed - plug it in and the OS immediately sees it). I've had mixed success with other brands of interface, but problems with most.
The results were interesting. Of course it worked fine on my 1st-gen MBP, as well as every Mac Pro tower AND new iMac in the store (the iMacs surprised me as they're supposed to have the new Agere chip as well).
But of course the Firebox would not work on any MacBook or MacBook Pro in the store. Needless to say, I had most of the store (employees) gathered around me in shock, as this is Nashville and most of these kids have some sort of audio interface. According to them, I was the first to bring up this issue.
Long story short, they encouraged me to spread the word and have everybody politely use Apple's feedback page so this issue gets proper attention. It is simply retarded that their entire laptop range is useless with many (if not most) firewire audio interfaces. I'm hoping it will be fixed in the next round of MBP's, supposedly slated for imminent release.
A few other interesting tidbits: I showed the store "Geniuses" (hmm) how to boot in single user mode (Apple-S). Interesingly, the iMacs showed them using a Lucent FW controller. My new MBP claims it's using a TI chip, while my 1st-gen MBP simply says OHCI controller - none of which makes any sense and seems backwards given these issues! Things that make you go "hmmmm..."
Anyway, if you're a MacBook or Macbook Pro user affected by this issue, here are the feedback links:
Apple - MacBook Pro - Feedback Apple - MacBook - Feedback
Here's hoping!