I really find the idea of our hardware not belonging to us to the fullest extent somewhat revolting. And not only hardware, but a lot of other things as well (looking at Monsanto for example).
Sorry, to say that, but imagine your car-maker of choice. Imagine during the last 50 or more years nobody would have been allowed to tune, to bodykit, to play with the car. What a interesting culture we would have lost.
Or imagine two guys named Steve would not have been allowed to tinker with hardware in 1976 (because the makers of the parts would not allow "unlocking" the hardware).
Where will we be, if our younglings will only see something with a display as a device for consuming, not for creating? What would a world look like, if it is ruled by "panem et circenses" (bread and circuses/games) like in ancient rome?
Is this really a world, to be a maker? Do we really wanna give our basic rights of possession and control (be it hardware or food) to some companies?
> Or imagine two guys named Steve would not have been allowed to tinker with hardware in 1976 (because the makers of the parts would not allow "unlocking" the hardware).
This example kinda goes against your argument since the Steves faced exactly the situation you're claiming might have stopped them.
The Steves who later founded Apple got their start with phone phreaking which was illegal at the time, despite being something you do with your own phone. But making it illegal didn't stop them -- it was more of a motivating factor.
We should emphasize that he essentially got away with the hacking, too. Incomplete coverage in the enforcement of a law bears no relation to the quality of that law.
Is it right to say that today's laws are far more scarier than 30-40 years ago? I mean, 5 years in prison for unlocking a phone, that a person paid money for and bought it? Making it a crime itself is absurd, and a full five years in prison for this?
Sorry, to say that, but imagine your car-maker of choice. Imagine during the last 50 or more years nobody would have been allowed to tune, to bodykit, to play with the car. What a interesting culture we would have lost.
Or imagine two guys named Steve would not have been allowed to tinker with hardware in 1976 (because the makers of the parts would not allow "unlocking" the hardware).
Where will we be, if our younglings will only see something with a display as a device for consuming, not for creating? What would a world look like, if it is ruled by "panem et circenses" (bread and circuses/games) like in ancient rome?
Is this really a world, to be a maker? Do we really wanna give our basic rights of possession and control (be it hardware or food) to some companies?