Originally Posted by md80fanatic
This device reads all Honeywell solid state recorders. I would bet other manufacturers offer similar data access devices for airlines to use.
<<See link in post>>Recorder Test and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) - Honeywell Aerospace
You're missing a blindingly obvious point.
FDRs, QARs and CVRs are basically ARINC standard, so as long as they are intact, there are no major problems in connecting to them and doing a read-out.
But once the box is smashed up sufficiently for one to have to go inside, "all bets are off".
I take it you've never seen what avionics boxes look like after a crash.... I have.
CJ