[etangent]

if you read the article, it also talks about outsourcing software production. In the broad sense, if one outsources both hardware and software production, what is one even left with? Does one produce anything besides putting one's name on fashion apparel?

[jacobr1]

Managing a distribution system, such as a sales and marketing organization is itself a feat. Plenty of tech companies no longer really innovate and just buy startups ... yet they still provide value (to their investors at least) by cross-selling the products to their clients, at a scale the startup might not have been able to reach organically (within the time window of their product remaining sufficiently innovative before it in turn in disrupted).