Finally got the ECW SDK working, for reading at least. The GDAL plugin is now available, as a separate download for licensing reasons. Writing ECW images is not disabled, but it will spit back an error. It can also read AND write JP2 images (as an alternative to the other JP2 drivers in GDAL).
“The beast is actively interested only in now, and, as it is always now and always shall be, there is an eternity of time for the accomplishment of objects.” – the wisdom of Tarzan