I'm not a programmer so I probably don't understand this too well, but if the codes are lost then how can a downloadable version of WipEout be offered and/or why can't the code be extracted from the current versions of the game directly from a game disc?

In addition even if the tracks would have to be rendered from scratch wouldn't the ability to add backwards firing weapons and old weapons that were in XL, WO and W3 be far simpler of a task?