In many (most, imo) cases the value added is minimal, sometimes added seemingly only to justify the monthly costs. And it is very much rent-seeking. How could

In many (most, imo) cases the value added is minimal, sometimes added seemingly only to justify the monthly costs. And it is very much rent-seeking. How could you not describe big 5's lobbying activities as conducted at least partially for regulatory capture? Look who is in charge of the FTC and FCC, particularly that one kid that tried to act cool to tech geeks, what's-his-name. And that is not even what I meant by rent seeking. We are seeing a new kind, at least in tech: subjugation of consumers means of production, achieved by carefully dispensing bits through services instead of allowing customers to retain control of them (via un-drm'd media or downloads). The purpose of this change is to create more revenue for the owner.... which is rent-seeking. Similar things have been going on for years with consumer stables... DollarShaveClub's One Wipe Charlies (expensive) to replace toilet paper (cheap), or juicero (expensive) to replace a blender and fruit (cheap). Chemical cleaners (expensive) instead of centuries-old natural techniques (cheap) even when chemicals are inappropriate to the cleaning job. And so on...