So it turns out the PS4 does have software authentication...

[wilco]

DonFerrari said:
Just buy a third party psJust buy a ps4 3rd party controller or dissassemble a ds4 and use it's board into a x1 controller, presto.

Third party controllers are terrible. I fell for that crap last gen. 

Even if I was hardware inclined, I serisouly doubt that simply swapping boards would work.