So, eventually, the cultural attention shifts from the the doers to the sellers. Just a shift in attention would lead to the de-emphasis of the hacker (at leas

So, eventually, the cultural attention shifts from the the doers to the sellers. Just a shift in attention would lead to the de-emphasis of the hacker (at least outside of infosec companies). The interesting point that you don't address is why the "hacker" moniker is bigger than ever. It wasn't a foregone conclusion. Professional software and hardware companies existed before "hacker" was thrust into the public consciousness as anything other then baddies on the news. It's not like there weren't hackers back then. Something changed, that something was branding. There is cultural cachet to be had in the "hacker" brand. And anyone that fancies themselves more hip than what they envision programming to be like at IBM or a government contractor wants in. At least until everyone figures out hacker is a meaningless term, then it's onto the next scam. For a take on how these things happen that I find much more interesting than this article: http://hotelconcierge.tumblr.com/post/134371738229/on-the-origin-of-posers http://hotelconcierge.tumblr.com/post/134371738229/on-the-or...