running Linux with no swap space (but lots of RAM)

JdeBP> No. It's a very good reason to not swap to the boot device
JdeBP> on that system, but instead to swap to some other device
JdeBP> that can tolerate paging I/O. The problem in your
JdeBP> hypothetical is that the chosen device cannot tolerate the
JdeBP> I/O, not that the system is paging to disc.
JdeBP>
JdeBP> <URL:http://homepages.tesco.net./~J.deBoynePollard/FGA/dont-
throw-
those-paging-files-away.html>

e> In that situation it is quite likely that you don't have "some
e> other device" to swap to. That's probably why you are booting
e> from flash in the first place.

The problem in your new hypothetical is then that you have no device
capable of tolerating paging I/O, not that the system is paging to
disc.
.