[beckman466]

> The consumer hardware we have today is mind blowingly good and the software to go with it is outstanding.

It would all be even better if 1) knowledge was de-commoditized (since thanks to digital tech knowledge is now already a non-rivalrous good as it has a zero marginal cost of reproduction) and 2) we used transparent p2p supply chains (http://valueflo.ws + http://holochain.org).

I think today's world is a black box hellworld. I don't think hardware and software are high quality at all. Proprietary tech is a straightjacket. I believe we can definitely escape this hellworld though. Some even say overcoming it is is essential if we want to make it out of global warming:

"The current political economy is based on a false idea of “immaterial scarcity.”

It believes that an exaggerated set of intellectual property monopolies – for copyrights, trademarks and patents – should restrain the sharing of scientific, social and economic innovations. Hence the system discourages human cooperation, excludes many people from benefiting from innovation and slows the collective learning of humanity.

In an age of grave global challenges, the political economy keeps many practical alternatives sequestered behind private firewalls or unfunded if they cannot generate adequate profits."