x86 has two things going for it: Microsoft Windows x86/AMD64 compatibility, and highest possible performance (not performance per watt; absolute attainable perf

x86 has two things going for it: Microsoft Windows x86/AMD64 compatibility, and highest possible performance (not performance per watt; absolute attainable performance). If you don't need either, it is expensive in cost, power or both. And in the IoT/Maker world, one rarely needs computing power on the device itself (and Galileo doesn't really provide a lot of computing power), or wants to pay for a windows license per device (and deal with activation, etc)