So we agree in the fact that integer, despite of it being a base-type of Pascal, changed it's representation over the years.
Yes, and no, it was always architecture dependent, just not automatically register size.
That's also why Pascal, like most C compilers didn't go to 64-bit integers on 64-bit systems. Basically you are lugging around a lot of useless zeroes in most calculations.
(I personally know, with BP7 and the ability/need to write 32-bit-code I had to change a HUGE amount of code to be compatible to old data-files.)
With modern processors, I don't mean new representation of old architectures.
I am talking of ARM (e.G), Arcon did a good job designing this Beast. And ARM-processors are aware of endianess, and can act accordingly.
PowerPC and MIPS too, but only on the chip or chipset design table. Not at runtime to my best knowledge. (and even if it were, then only as startup state, and after the startup it basically would be a different architecture as far as applications were concerned).
Emdarcadero just felt the need to introduce this new type.
Yes, but it might not be machine related, just something they need in e.g. FM in combination with some limitation of e.g. the new ARM64 iOS ABI.
Anyway, at this point it is all speculation.