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Sakos10/11/20243 repliesview on HN

> It should not force companies to build parts for you.

If a company is unable to provide long-term support in the form of replacement parts, then they shouldn't be allowed to sell it to consumers. For decades, and for most devices, it was trivial to find replacement parts and/or swap out identical parts, even if they weren't made by the original manufacturer. You can get replacement parts for cars made in the 90s, 80s, 70s.

It should not be acceptable to buy something as important and life-changing and expensive as this exoskeleton, and the manufacturer just fucks off and provides no way to maintain it long-term.

Freedom doesn't exist. Every corporation is bound by laws and regulations. "Forcing people to do work they do not want to". We aren't talking about regular people like you or me. We're talking about corporations. They're regularly "forced" to do things they don't want to, to the benefit of their customers and society as a whole. You need better arguments if you want to argue against regulating companies.


Replies

raincole10/11/2024

How long is long term?

Forcing companies to support cutting-edge prototypes (like exoskeleton) for decades is the best way to ensure there won't be any company making them.

show 4 replies
jwagenet10/11/2024

> For decades, and for most devices, it was trivial to find replacement parts and/or swap out identical parts…

This seems like a stretch for anything other than cars, pcs, and large appliances. I doubt this has been true for a long time for anything under $100 and more electrically complicated than a switch and a motor.

from-nibly10/11/2024

So just no exoskeletons ever then.