Couple this trend with the progress being made in 3d printers (eg, recent developments in 'printing' simple circuits and electronics) and one can easily see tha

Couple this trend with the progress being made in 3d printers (eg, recent developments in 'printing' simple circuits and electronics) and one can easily see that the low-end consumer electronics market segment is due for a paradigm shift (cliche intended!). Once consumer-grade 3d printers are ubiquitous, it would truly spell the end for brick and mortar retail for 'simple electronics,' since even printing out a cheap demo model at home will be much more cost effective than hopping in your SUV and guzzling a few $7 gallons to pick up a spatula with a built in thermometer. Plus, we may see a resurgence in 'illicit' devices such as blue boxes back from the phreaking days. Some ne'er-do-wells will populate Thingiverse with designs for devices we could only dream of back in our mischievous youths and that could never be sold in a retail establishment.