Stephen Hemminger [off-list ref] :
[...]

   IMHO:
	When device is down, it should:
	 a) use as few resources as possible:
	       - not grab memory for buffers
	       - not assign IRQ unless it could get one
	       - turn off all power consumption possible
	 b) allow setting parameters like speed/duplex/autonegotiation,
            ring buffers, ... with ethtool, and remember the state
	 c) not accept data coming in, and drop packets queued

<nit>
Imho speed/duplex/autoneg is not the business of the device: they belong
to the phy and it's up to it to decide if its state allows to set the
requested parameters or not.
</nit>

-- 
Ueimor