We have the ability to design things better. SV folks should get toghether and start a startup in this space - it is ripe with many opportunities. One company c

We have the ability to design things better. SV folks should get toghether and start a startup in this space - it is ripe with many opportunities. One company comes in uses the truthful marketing to change the tune of GE/Haier/Samsung and others. Unfortunately, we're battling vicious hardware market forces and whatever you do - it won't beat the cost of existing players who cheapout in parts and UI, especially when mass produced in China. Hardware requires serious funding to get started and ME/EE skills are disappearing from the west. Physical controls are getting more and more expensive due to dwindling demand. Many encoders from ALPS have been EOL'ed. I don't think we're gonna get out of this horrible UX/UI rut.