[Info-vax] Ignorance promenade: On the nature of patching VMS

[Subcommandante XDelta]

I really have to take an angle grinder to the scale, rust and verdigris
on my VMS expertise, it is on the to-do list; my TDL is longer than
Methuselahs beard and just as hairy, alas.

Question:

Is it possible that certain adustments to deep levels of VMS could not
be achieved by the issuing of a patch, but would require the complete
recompilation of the VMS kernel image?

(or whatever the correct terminology is)

Whilst it is a question framed from genuine ignorance, it is also a
trick question.

The viability of certain VMS activism strategies are contingent upon the
answer.

Thank you.