whats the deal with OS9 and BW/16color modes?

[goodoldmacs]

i have read conflicting information like you can enable the modes if you use particular monitors or if you replace the monitors extension with some specific older version, etc etc

it seems like one of those things though where the only reason programs wont run in higher color modes is just because the program itself is set to stop running?  like even if the system were in 256 or higher, the program would still run fine...if it wasn't closing itself down?

in all the years of mac tweaking is there no trick to either 1) get those modes available in OS9 or 2) trick the program into running anyway?