So, I had safehax ready to downgrade my New 3DS XL so I could install A9LH. Then, when I realized the issue with sleep mode bricking N3DS <8.0.0, I decided to wait until I had more time to avoid someone interrupting me and me possibly bricking my system. Seems like a good call. Well, then I start messing with FBI(.3dsx). I look under "Pending Titles," and I notice that all of the pending titles are marked as type:NAND. There's 0.37.0 (?), 3.0.0, 4.0.0, 9.1.0, 11.0.0, and 11.4.0. When I saw 11.4.0 on the list, I was sure they were NAND updates. Oddly enough, there were three more- 14.0.0, 21.something, and 25.something. I really want to know what those do, but I may never find out. Well, being me, I noted the long number that went with 11.0.0, found it under "Tickets," and after slight hesitation... Installed it. I'm pretty sure it was a NAND update. (Which makes me wish even more that I tried to install 25.0.0.) I'm guessing that badges weren't around during 11.0.0, because none of my stuff wanted to load. (All of my system titles are replaced with launcher badges, with the real ones tucked away in a folder. Neither the badges nor the folder contents wanted to load.) I powered off, removed the (micro)SD card, and powered on. Well, my actual system titles loaded, but starting them was another story. My 3DS froze whenever I tried to open anything (including the home menu settings). I tried booting with and without the SD card multiple times, and finally resorted to removing the battery. I wouldn't be surprised if that earned me a facepalm. Well, I put it back in, and my 3DS wouldn't boot at all. So... recovery mode... yeah. I really should have tried cancelling, since it enabled my wifi for me, but I didn't.
So... now I have 11.4.0 without a CFW. After waiting for a 11.3 exploit for months. I didn't want to risk hard bricking my system, so of course, I soft bricked it. I don't even know how to express the pain of this situation.
I really hope Smea finds a 11.4 vulnerability soon. ...but it looks like I'm waiting until July even if he does.