When the options --boot --binary are both used, a warning diagnostic is emitted.

% hex2000 --binary --romwidth=16 --boot -o=file.bin file.out
warning: Output format option --binary requires --image and a ROMS directive to
   avoid ignoring holes in memory.
Translating to Binary format...
   "file.out" secB ==> (BOOT TABLE)
   "file.out" secA ==> (BOOT TABLE)

When --boot is not used, that diagnostic is accurate. If a hole is present between sections, using --binary without --image and a ROMS directive causes that hole to be ignored.

When --boot is used, the hex utility formats the data as required by the boot loader. This means meta-data is added for the bootloader, which handles possible holes. Thus the diagnostic is not needed.