[lpolovets]

This article made me think of Betteridge's law of headlines (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headline...): "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no."

On a serious note, it surprised me that the BOM listed the shipping materials as being about as expensive as an assembled and flashed PCB. It's interesting that a cardboard box (which feels pedestrian) costs about as much as a printed circuit board (which feels a little like magic).

[jkestner]

A lot of it comes down to automation and mass. Chips are made by the millions and the material costs are minimal. Your box is made by the thousands and is a relative pain to handle.

[Kiro]

I haven't downvoted you but I think people are because they're tired of references to Betteridge's law of headlines in every single submission ending with a question mark.

I personally don't think this is a good case of Betteridge's by the way.

[lpolovets]

Thanks for the feedback -- I really appreciate it!

[aylons]

Actually, I think the Betteridge's law was used as a device in the writing, making the reader assume from the beginning that the answer is "no".