We are in agreement. The pins are the point. > there's something that you can physically expand, read data from nature using it, and make changes directly in

We are in agreement. The pins are the point. > there's something that you can physically expand, read data from nature using it, and make changes directly in the physical world using code. You can't do this with _just_ a RPI though. A RPI without any extra sensors or electronics is just a desktop.