[webmobdev]

> I ask this with no malice: What makes people work on projects like this?

There is market for these kinds of phone. Check out the "Classic Phone" segment of Nokia - https://www.nokia.com/phones/en_in/classic-phones ... they've even recently released a 4g "dumb" phone.

Not everybody can afford a smartphone. And "dumb" phones like this provide the much needed mobility and connectivity to low-income group of our society (especially in a developing country like mine). Apart from this, the other reasons to consider these phones is the long battery life, and the less distractions they offer.

> I'm willing to bet that the phone is bound to fail and their OS will be doomed to obscurity. How do the creators not see this?

Yes, the phone will fail. But not for the exact reasons you cited.

They will fail because they are targeting a niche market - people with good income who have chosen a minimalist lifestyle. And that's why it is priced at the nonsensical price of $314 dollar ("discounted" from the "original" price of $369). The pricing makes no sense when you consider that Nokia offers 4g capable dumb phones for $40 to $48.