"Part 2 of this volume is an exercise in theoretical applied science, a mode of research which aims to describe technological possibilities as constrained not b

"Part 2 of this volume is an exercise in theoretical applied science, a mode of research which aims to describe technological possibilities as constrained not by present-day laboratory and factory techniques, but by physical law." -Eric Drexler, Nanosystems, Appendix A. Dude was very clear about his aims, and it is a shitty kind of strawman argument to dunk on Drexler like Scott Locklin is doing here. Physicists think like this all the time when considering upper- and lower-bounds to things. Drexler just had the temerity to put nice graphics alongside his speculation. It's not his fault if people got inspired. The upside of his work (inspiring dreamers to get into materials science, physical chemistry, even molecular/cellular biology) far outweighs even the worst downsides haters like Locklin can invent.