> The only people pedaling it are FAANG, war-drumming furiously for kids to learn to code for the love of god so they can stop paying programmers a reasonable w

> The only people pedaling it are FAANG, war-drumming furiously for kids to learn to code for the love of god so they can stop paying programmers a reasonable wage. Really? Maybe FAANG do peddle it for that reason, but I think it's an entirely reasonable class of device for those who want to give their kids a learning environment. As a 90s kid from a household who definitely could not afford computer(s) for me to just fuck up, I'm forever grateful to my dad for bringing home obsolete computer equipment from work for me to screw around with. While I'm not a professional programmer, that exposure is for sure the reason for my overall interest in technology, and the reason I consider myself a competent programmer. To me, this is priceless. If I ever have children, I'd want to give them that opportunity too. And while maybe I can affort more of a luxury in this department, I want everyone to have this access. The Pi and similar devices provide that! Fantastic! While the Pi has a lot of problems with a lack of openness, its existence spawned a whole market for disposable computers that kids can run wild with. I think that's wonderful. It brought back the playful early days! If that means that FAANG will have an easier access to programmers in the future, so be it. It also helps equip people deal with the modern world. Great! > everything the pi is touted to do, you can either accomplish with existing general computing Yes you can. But not for the price of a few cups of coffee, and in a form factor that can be easily stowed away when not needed. > or something like an arduino (and as a benefit, learn some electrical theory as well.) That barrier is far higher. You know that. And how great isn't it that we have both? The low-barrier-to-entry Pi (and similar, more open, devices), and the somewhat higher barrier Arduino? The more, the merrier!