[consumer451]

I am also a cynical, if admitting market forces is cynical. :)

The only 75% cynical part of me thought that the move to touchscreens, removing ports, etc improved device lifetime and also lowered the unit cost of things like AppleCare.

The less moving parts the less chance of failure, right?

[cassianoleal]

> The less moving parts the less chance of failure, right?

Of failure by impact and vibration, perhaps. But that's pretty much a solved problem in car dials and buttons - we have decades ols cars with fully functional dashboards and controls.

Otherwise, risk of failure is driven up by complexity, in which case a computer, with all its components, plus an operating system, drivers, etc, and apps on top of it add many layers of complexity in comparison with buttons and dials.

[dTal]

Software is a moving part - usually a lot of moving parts.

[lttlrck]

an electric motor, wiring harness and software to control vent direction versus a couple of injection molded pieces of plastic... which is less likely to fail and which is easier to repair/replace?