>However, it would not be hard for a potential customer to hire developers and to re-create a similar platform with some time and effort. You could re-create a

>However, it would not be hard for a potential customer to hire developers and to re-create a similar platform with some time and effort. You could re-create a Google with some time and effort, too. Jesting aside, that is valid for practically any product or service. Customers have other things to do; comparative advantage and all. Even if they have the ability and resources to re-create every tool they're using to accomplish their core tasks, doing so means they wouldn't be executing their core tasks. Where would they draw the line before getting to Czochralski and growing semiconductors crystals?