It would be cool if it worked in proximity. Does anybody know if the Ford's can do that? Obviously nothing is hooked up to the key when its in the alarm module bypss, so maybe its possible to just carry the key in your pocket and thats good enough
I'll have to try getting a spare key cut for my 00 and see if it runs on that key unprogrammed. I need a second key anyway (just sucks I only got 1 with the truck and the dealer is going to have to program the 2nd!)
And yes a theif can disable the alarm or really know his wiring to bypass the brake switch setup so it doesn't die when the brake is pressed to put the truck in gear, but you're taking it to a new level. An alarm without remote start is the safest setup, followed by an alarm with the interim pats bypass for remote starting but with the safety checks to interrup running. To have the key in the truck all the time setup to bypass the pats all the time for the pushbutton is no different than just disabling it all together.
This is getting interesting though. If the Ford's will work with the key still in your pocket and satisfy the PATS, and if an easy way is found to disable the steering lock (the PATS has been so effective I believe they're doing away with the steering lock on newer models anyway), then I'd be pretty interested in this push button start setup as well.
In that case though, you still would need to turn the ignition cylinder forward to activate the accessories, ect., so you wouldn't even need the push button, you could just fire the truck up with no key at all just by twisting the cylinder as long as the latch was disabled somehow.