That $50 flat tax will also make it harder for anyone new to compete (the practicality of which seems to be getting higher instead of lower with all these SBC's and the like). Don't underestimate the power of law to shape the future of companies, and which ones survive.
Even if you charge a flat tax ($50 per laptop), there’s still little incentive for the manufacturer to provide ongoing support.
Don’t underestimate the power of marketing to convince people to ignore the future.