[blt]

3d printing got oversold. "Print replacement parts for your washing machine" was total bullshit. 3D printer CEOs wanted to be like Steve Jobs and sell millions of devices to consumers. They could have earned a respected spot in the toolboxes of engineers, artists, scientists, even manufacturers. Instead they pushed trinket machines that didn't even work as designed. They could have been like Tektronix or Mori Seiki but they got greedy.

[JoeAltmaier]

I read them as, enthusiastic promoters on the bleeding edge. They jumped into 3D printing despite the risks. Harsh to call that 'greedy'.

That said, 3D printing is still pretty lame. Cheap plastic parts are rarely the critical element in a device. And even knobs etc often have retaining clips or friction-fit holes with sub-millimeter tolerances, that 3D printers cannot achieve.

[blt]

I speak from personal experience. It was all greed with certain major players.

[sleepybrett]

I agree, My washing machine knobs are fine. I did however print a replacement for a knob on my clothes dryer. ;)

However 95% of the time I'm printing something for a prototype or some little thing I'm tinkering with.