No 
I can't mine without them.
May I ask how the lack of a USB bootloader or lack of i2c chaining prevents you from mining ? I can't mine without them.Thirdly, I live in Australia. USB connectors here are upside down...
The bootloader code is required to update the firmware via USB connection. It can connect to a computer just fine and mine over USB presently. Speaking as someone who has a number of these K16's mining in my farm presently.
If you are not concerned about needing to easilly update the firmware at a future date, and wish to start mining ASAP, I would recommend you ask for your miners to be shipped immediately. It is unlikely you will ever need to update the firmware.
The only thing I might want to update the firmware for, is if they ever fix the issue with needing to re-plug the fan on the board header in order to get the system to recognize them on boot, however, I'm going to re-wire my K16 rack this weekend to run the fans off 4-pin Molex, so the fan bug won't be much of an issue for me soon.
If you'd like to update the firmware at some future time on these, you will need to acquire a PiCkit 3 programmer like the one described here. http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en538340&redirects=pickit3
These programmers can be had for ~$40 USD on EBay if you enjoy tinkering.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Easy-To-Use-USB-PIC-chip-PICKit3-programmer-ICSP-PICKit-3-Full-Pack-From-USA-2-/271261843858
Thanks a ton for your help! I'll send SB an email now and request my miner to be shipped. I've googled ic2 and USB boot loader before (images only) and when I saw that it's got some hardware and hardwiring stuff into it I gave up; never been a fan of these things. I also presumed since it's the USB connector, there will be no easy way for me to connect to the computer and mine.
Like you said, I think I'll be selling these as scrap metal before I'd need to update the firmware on them. With $0.27 + GST for electricity here, I think before I know it it's gonna be unprofitable :-)
You've been of a great help! I appreciate it :-)