To clarify, the exploit available on 10.7 is an ARM11 exploit. ARM11 used to be all that was needed for downgrading.
In 11.0 this changed, because they added a list of minimum versions for system titles, and if the version is lower than that, the install is denied on the ARM9 side.
You can certainly downgrade your o3DS if you have an exploitable game (Cubic Ninja or OoT/Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon + powersaves/savedongle, there's a new entrypoint coming soon as well but the game is unknown)
Are you sure you don't know anyone who can solder? I got my dad to install my Wii modchip back in the day
I don't know about you, but I never want to use an o3DS again after getting the n3DS. The 3D works so much better, it should have been like this from the beginning honestly.
There's always the option of sending the console off to UK to be hardmodded by
@gamesquest1 who is well renowned for his hardmods, but the import tax and shipping costs make it a lot more expensive, still cheaper than buying another n3DS XL though. It would be about 90 kr to send it there, about 400 kr in import tax when it gets sent back to you, and however much import tax in UK + shipping back to you costs (it's probably less than that) plus a small fee for the actual install. He might do the downgrade for you as well if you ask.
But that's only if you write the real value on the package. You could probably avoid import tax by writing a low value on the package.
I have been wanting a hardmod just for safety but haven't been willing to send it off to gamesquest1 due to the risk of having to pay a lot in import tax. My console is hacked and working fine, so it just wasn't worth it. It would have been worth it if I bricked it or was on 11.0 wanting CFW though.
Think of it this way, one game costs 400-450 NOK, so for around the price of two games (at most) you can get all the 3DS games you could ever want for free.