Bit of a noob question wrt IME, but I noticed a toggle in the linux kernel configuration menu to disable IME the other day when I was compiling my first custom kernel. I understand that IME is a separate processor with separate network access that operates at or below the BIOS/UEFI level of the system. Does the linux kernel option actually do anything? And if not why is it there.

It doesn't seem like that should be able to do anything, knowing what I do know about the IME