If you don't have access to such a device, the probability you'll do something with it is zero. Getting them into the hands of many people increases the chance

If you don't have access to such a device, the probability you'll do something with it is zero. Getting them into the hands of many people increases the chance that some of those people will actually do something worthwhile. They're cheap enough that you can tinker without losing a lot of money if you break it, and if it goes unused it's not a huge loss either.