> Every time I buy a new one, I have to either look for one with an open source firmware already installed, or be very careful to make sure one I get is supposed so I can reflash it (if its even possible on some models) to reclaim my freedoms.
Now, why do you do this? What motivates you? Is it ideology? Or do you have a practical reason for wanting that power over the appliance?
Now, if you have a practical reason, then you have proven what I have been arguing, namely that freedom is of economic value. I.e. freedom is important not because of some abstract value but rather what you can produce with it.
If we accept that, then in the long run, software with more freedom will outcompete software with less freedom.
Community is what is important, I would agree.
> Every time I buy a new one, I have to either look for one with an open source firmware already installed, or be very careful to make sure one I get is supposed so I can reflash it (if its even possible on some models) to reclaim my freedoms.
Now, why do you do this? What motivates you? Is it ideology? Or do you have a practical reason for wanting that power over the appliance?
Now, if you have a practical reason, then you have proven what I have been arguing, namely that freedom is of economic value. I.e. freedom is important not because of some abstract value but rather what you can produce with it.
If we accept that, then in the long run, software with more freedom will outcompete software with less freedom.