It is hard enough to get good projects going, especially something involving hardware. They have to think about funding, manufacturing, shipment, spreading the word out ... In addition to these, if they also have to think about politics - especially against those with insane resources like Intel or Microsoft, it is almost an impossible fight.
It says a lot about our society as a whole that good projects face such miserable odds
It says a lot about our society as a whole that good projects face such miserable odds