My point was that, for a complex product like a computer, an individual consumer can't decide this. A shop still using a C64 is lucky that it didn't break -- o

My point was that, for a complex product like a computer, an individual consumer can't decide this. A shop still using a C64 is lucky that it didn't break -- or that there's plenty of other C64's for sale which broke in different ways, so they could be cannibalized for parts! I was happy with my C64, but the 1541 drive kept failing (even 25 years ago). As a user, I'm able to ignore network effects for the device's use. That's merely an inconvenience. I can't ignore network effects for repair and maintenance. That will turn it into a fancy paperweight. It's not like a pen and shorthand. Those I can use even if no company wants to support me. I could even make my own pen, without too much trouble, if somehow all pen companies went out of business next week.