[fredsted]

AirPort Express is not in wall-socket format anymore. I own the latest one - I only use it for AirPlay streaming/WiFi bridge, but it has been 100% stable (as long as you connect it to another AirPort - other routers will cause random disconnects). Yes it gets hot - any fanless device gets hot - but hot enough to damage anything. Only bad thing is it doesn't have 802.11ac.

Also, sure, you're probably right about the vendor-lock in thing. But I also think Apple wants to make sure the user gets a good experience. With a Web app it's harder to do that. But the apps are really nice and simple to use, and after I set up a device I don't mess with it besides opening up ports. That's just the tradeoffs you live with when you get Apple devices.

That's why I think there's a huge opportunity in creating well designed, good-looking, user friendly network equipment.