[watsocd]

The problem for IBM is that startups can't afford them.

For example, does Amazon have the CPU load to run many System Zs? Of course they do.

But Amazon probably started with one cheap PC connected to the web somewhere. And then two ... three .. and so on. By the time Amazon had the CPU load and business to need/afford a System Z, it was too late to change.

[markus_zhang]

Wondering whether it's possible to rent mainframe time...there is a guy on youtube who once gave old mainframr accounts for free.

[wilsonnb3]

I believe IBM offers this.

https://www.ibm.com/us-en/marketplace/managed-cloud-environm...

[DrScump]

Service Bureaus, which would do mainframe job processing for smaller companies that couldn't afford their own computer, used to be a thing.