>Why is an i386 package only usable if compiled with sse2 instructions? >If you are targeting post-2003 computers, why aren't you using an amd64 >build anyway?
Lots of x86_64 machines run x86 systems due to low RAM availability, they are 2010 Atom netbooks, etc. For the low RAM ones i think that currently debian x32 it's not an option if you aren't a power user.