Software that comes with a computer

Last year I configured a Raspberry Pi with a web server and a database to use for developing an upgrade to a web app I'd written in Perl years ago. During that process it occurred to me that a Pi can actually provide developers with a very cost effective application distribution method. One that opens up what could be huge new avenues for both app developers and software users. For the user there is the obvious advantage of having the software and all your data, and the hardware it's running on, in-house (as opposed to the cloud). For the developer, it means they can tune the entire platform for a specific app and/or end user. When I think about it, this seems a rather natural path in the evolution of both hardware and software and how it is delivered and used. It kind of brings the way software is distributed full circle. In essence, instead of a computer coming with software we now have software that comes with a computer. Instead of "installing it" you access via wifi. And instead of a user being required to access their app from the internet the user connects their app to the internet when they choose to. I've been playing with this concept for a few months now. It's certainly doable now and with a bit more work it could be "plug-n-play". The question is, are we ready for software that comes with a computer?