Flashing Roms- Activesync vs Bootloader mode

[straylight]

Ive noticed that some kitchens and ROMs only let me successfully flash if I sync to a computer first. Otherwise the newly flashed phone just sits at the title screen telling me the OS version number forever.

I can flash Mighty Mikes Roms by FORCING the phone in bootloader mode. But Boreds need me to sync my phone to a computer using activesync for success (Activesync itself puts the phone in Bootloader mode).

Has anyone else had this problem? I'll admit its pretty odd, and it might be my piece of hardware in particular. Has anyone come across a cause and or solution?