[bb88]

No argument from me, other than: All those things can be also be said about corporations.

You brought up lamplighters and the electric lightbulb. It's worth noting that corporations had a cartel that prevented lightbulbs from running longer than a few years. And to some extent that still happens.

Big Clive did a good video on the Dubai Lamp a few years back, and why you can't buy them anywhere but in Dubai.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klaJqofCsu4