Can this be done on an old (pre-10.5) firmware, or would you have to be on the latest firmware, and find some way to... spoof your region, I assume?

I think you can only if you have decrypted your NAND but it's a bad idea working on sysNAND... It's better change region in emuNAND instead :vCan this be done on an old (pre-10.5) firmware, or would you have to be on the latest firmware, and find some way to... spoof your region, I assume?

Or you could be cool and have an American/Japan 2/3DS...just buy a used japanese 3ds off ebay for cheap. I got an o3ds from Japan fully boxed in mint condition for $90 USD