I think 5 reasons: 1. Forces config to be reproducible, as VMs will go down. 2. You can get heavy discounts on AWS that reduce the pain. 3. The other stuff y

I think 5 reasons: 1. Forces config to be reproducible, as VMs will go down. 2. You can get heavy discounts on AWS that reduce the pain. 3. The other stuff you have access to atop the VMs that's cheaper/faster once your stuff is already in the cloud 4. Easier to have a documented system config (e.g. AWS docs) than train people/document what special stuff you have in-house. Especially useful in hiring new folks. 5. You don't need space or redundant power/internet/etc on premesis. Just enough to let people run their laptops.