>> Actually, if you use soft-float emulation there's no real need to
>> stick with  this format. 
>
>Except for the fact that the compiler and all the other binary tools know 
>this.

I think only `endian()' in gcc needs to know.  Do the other tools care at all? 
I can't think of any case where the assembler or linker manipulate floating 
constants - we don't have any relocs relating to them.

p.