This is well argued, and I think the big change there was the early-2000's DRM ideas: that a hardware platform like the iPod could protect the IP used on it. In

This is well argued, and I think the big change there was the early-2000's DRM ideas: that a hardware platform like the iPod could protect the IP used on it. Initially this was seen as important for music, even though the restrictions got relaxed over time. But the same applies to any digital good. As a result, we're seeing the software industry squashed (and commoditized) to fit the needs of a couple companies that control hardware today.