Some government-funded research is intended to spin off new businesses. I think it's good that they can choose between different models like proprietary and open information to best match the situation and their goals.
Why do you think that an open information model would have been better in this case?
Reprap launched when the first FFF patents were expiring, and kicked off a huge burst of creativity and innovation in 3D printing that continues to this day.
Right, so the reprap came well after the invention of fused filament, following the typical technology lifecycle of invention, then commercialization, then democratization.
huh, now i wonder if we could make a 3d printer heat brake out of zirconium oxide
I hope these peeps expand into diamond as well, there's barely anyone doing work with fused or solid polycrystalline diamond anywhere near the consumer market