> If you're comparing like with like, that shouldn't make a difference (unless you claim widespread small-scale soap production is somehow actively hurt by more

> If you're comparing like with like, that shouldn't make a difference (unless you claim widespread small-scale soap production is somehow actively hurt by more people doing it). No. As best I can tell, the GP post was claiming that those considering making their own soap should not, due to environmental concerns. Exploring a scenario in which everyone in the world suddenly converting to home lye soap might be an interesting thought experiment, but has nothing to do with the real world. > You're talking about solving a huge coordination problem. They're talking about keeping on using a solution to a huge coordination problem that already exists. Perhaps I am, in a world in which everyone abruptly started making their own soap last week. In this world, I'm talking about arguments that fail because they are predicated on extremely weak claims of economy of scale.