The difference is that only people who accepted the consequences of tinkering bought those products back then. We knew that if we messed up and bricked it, that

The difference is that only people who accepted the consequences of tinkering bought those products back then. We knew that if we messed up and bricked it, that was on us. Consumer devices are made for consumers - people who don't know how to create. If they follow some messed-up tutorial on YouTube and brick their device, they don't see that that's their fault. They complain to the manufacturer and expect a replacement or a refund. So manufacturers have to protect themselves from these people, by locking the device down so you can't mess it up. It's not to stop us from tinkering with it. It's to stop the consumers from breaking their stuff "accidentally".