[foverzar]

> TSMC need to know they have a customer for new nodes in order to invest in them

I mean, does anyone doubt that thinner process nodes will be in demand?

[samwillis]

No, but companies still like to have preorders to pay for the investment, rather than having to empty their savings to raise cash. Apple with the cash they have thrown at TSMC and the almost certain high sales they know they will have, can make pre-emptive moves other companies will struggle to do.

[raxxorraxor]

How are we to proceed if we reach the size of a single atomic layer which is around 0.5nm?

Sure, 3nm is marketing too, but there are hard limits and reliability might suffer if manufacturing cannot keep up.