The parameter is not yet used.

This enables capture of windows even when not entirely visible.

Thus, there is no need for a mutex anymore.

The numerical values are the same, but they don't have the same meaning.

Multi-frontend adapters (single tuner, multiple standards) provide
multiple frontend nodes and only one demux. So the device number
is only used when selecting the frontend.

I am going to assume that devices with multiple independent tuners
show as multiple adapters (otherwise this is totally screwed).

If the object has no references left, b_alive is irrelevant.