Re: Is something of this "common knowledge" ?
I had a VIC20 and C64. I remember that I managed to get the 2-bit color palette to work on my VIC20. It created graphics 'that were clunky' looking, since were made from pixels that were much wider compared to their height.
This was before any standard formats emerged for making 8-bit computers display high-resolution color. (And Commodore had a tendency to create its own methods anyway.)
It was work (but fun too) for us ordinary humans to manipulate the screen memory, with its specific byte locations, and exacting calculations required to change even one pixel. I suspect the manufacturers automated the easy stuff, while giving us a few color options to explore in case we wished. I don't suppose the hard stuff would be well-known, except among devoted 8-bit enthusiasts, or emulator programmers. If this is concerning legal issues, I'm ignorant.