I think that we hackers tend to focus on tech-oriented looks at why things succeed or fail. I propose another idea: that we need education of 3D modeling in schools, at a basic level, in order to encourage more people to understand the possibilities.

In middle school we'd learn various things about art, art history, art techniques, and while they weren't comprehensive, they provided a basic level of appreciation for art. As an example, if I hadn't learned about techniques like shading or perspective drawing, I would've thought that they were impossible for a layman like me to attempt.

For most people (and by "most people" I mean anecdotally most people I know), 3d modeling and 3d printing seems to be at this unapproachable level of complexity. If we can show kids the simpler side of 3d modeling, there would be a much greater consumer interest in 3d printing.