> When I started the business, I thought the money was in the software, not the hardware. That can happen. I had a business where I set out to develop hardwar

> When I started the business, I thought the money was in the software, not the hardware. That can happen. I had a business where I set out to develop hardware product A, and then realized I needed product B to be able to make A work. Five years later the business was about product B and A never got off the ground at all. Reminds me of when I bought my first surface mount assembly line from this guy who deals in used manufacturing equipment. We had a nice conversation as the equipment was delivered and installed. He had downsized the business from some 50 employees to just him and a couple of assistants. He could not be happier. At one point he said: You know, a business is like a living, breathing life form that tells you what to do every day, not the other way around. BTW, I still think that businesses that can create a hardware + software lock can be excellent. Generic hardware is trouble, just ask anyone who thought they'd design a cool new 3D printer only to have it cloned by someone in China before their Kickstarter campaign was over (this actually happened at least once, I met the poor fellow). If the hardware is connected to useful non-trivial software and services, the barrier to entry is significantly higher.