[markus2012]

I wonder if times are changing again. It just seems that meeting vendors or walking down the street for resistor strips is no longer necessary.

Rationale: you now just need to bulk order the raw materials / components and "feed the machine".

We aren't there yet, but jeez we seem to be racing there quick?

[edejong]

The real problem is latency in modifications of advanced IC design. To quickly iterate a design, it's not enough to have the 'standard' components available. Many breaking technologies rely on designs utilizing the latest versions (or custom made) ICs, which are simply not available at the same time in the US/EU compared with China.