"Bricked" is relative, depending on your skill level.
For some consumers, if recovery mode doesn't work that might be the end of line.
However, there are more advanced users that can access the storage via another system and fix it there, hook up via serial port or JTAG and flash new firmware, or even desolder and replace chips.
On the far other end of the spectrum, there's going to be people that consider "doesn't show the normal UI after I press the power button" as bricked.
For some consumers, if recovery mode doesn't work that might be the end of line.
However, there are more advanced users that can access the storage via another system and fix it there, hook up via serial port or JTAG and flash new firmware, or even desolder and replace chips.
On the far other end of the spectrum, there's going to be people that consider "doesn't show the normal UI after I press the power button" as bricked.