the more sophisticated the industrial printers get, the more sophisticated the home ones will get
Oh yeah? And what pays for that "sophistication?" better print heads or lasers cost more. good lead screws, better bearings cost more than threaded rod. More mechanical features ADD to costs. These are not computer-bits of intellectual property that cost zero in production. These are physical tangible items that you can't "shrink" like shrinking chip-logic. Compare the physical features of your $200 printer, to a $1000- $3000 3D printer.
Nit picking small parts of herbs response since others already addressed the rest, mass production will help pay for that sophistication. Even parts that have not been "shrunk" in size can come down in cost when production runs are increased. Yes, supply chain issues and demand issues can reverse that if demand out strips supply etc, but larger production runs are just one of several answers to that question. The rest are as well known as that one answer. I don't see you as a "villain" either Herb. I love your well reasoned responses to this and many other topics that come up, off topic or not! It's that give and take and back and forth and opposite/competing points of view that make this discussion list one of my favorites!!! Your passion for discussion is always enjoyed from my perspective and I've learned a great deal sitting back and watching or sometimes participating in those various discussions. Tony