Well, without the network working you cannot use ssh or telnet to operate on the device and therefore having the auto-orientation settings work properly would be a huge advantage.
Moreover, to make it working - as I anticipated, most probably - the kernel config should be revised and also the boot hacks removed - as far as - they can interfere with the kernel, I do not think so but I cannot exclude it. What kind of hacks? Abstruse parameter settings into kernel cmdline should not be considered hacks, as far as I know.
BTW, it seems to me that you set the right path for achieving the screen auto-orientation. 
Unfortunately, I do not remember if SFOS allows to set every orientation with the manual setting.
Hence, I made a quick search in this forum and I found that it is possible with a simple hack.
I hope this helps.
update
It might be or might not:
- It depends by the reason of the failure.
- It depends if it slows down your activity.
- it depends on the product maturity level.
I would exclude the 3rd case, for now.