Interesting, but not without precedent. The Torq teeth form a circular key, and it's not surprising that people have exploited its resemblance to a lock and key.

Decades ago, when I was a field service engineer for a traffic signal company, I carried a master key that would open every traffic signal controller cabinet in the country. It was logical: Public safety personnel would need to get inside in a hurry to take control of the signal for manual traffic control, and maintenance people would often be in a hurry to get inside to make repairs. And you had to allow for the factory rep flying in from California and needing to get inside too. Having unique keys for every traffic signal cabinet would be a disaster.

The key was handed to me and I think I had to sign for it. No doubt there's a supplier somewhere who, just like Torq, will sell you a key if you present the right credentials. Nowadays you might also get checked out by the Ministry of Homeland Security, too, I would expect. But it's still another example of a private system of restrictions on a sensitive piece of hardware.

Yet another example: Lots of keys are stamped "do not duplicate", and an ethical locksmith is supposed to refuse to copy those keys. Yet another system based entirely on trust and voluntary compliance.