I don't think that there is much that the major PC brands can do to prevent the device from powering their future devices. However, you are right that a certain

I don't think that there is much that the major PC brands can do to prevent the device from powering their future devices. However, you are right that a certain a certain amount of risk exists and I don't think that one would actually save a lot of money by ordering early. Given that they use no custom electrical components (according to the project description), $89 seems like quite a hefty price. I assume that by the time the device is mass produced its price will be lower due to pressure from competitors.