Still fathoms me that Dropbox is worth billions of $ for the same functionality as FTP.
Explain FTP to your Aunt Edna. Get FTP working where everything on all devices is in sync automatically. Comment on a file via FTP. Send a link to a file they can consume on a mobile device — including playing audio or video without downloading the file. Create access lists for folders.
Sure you could do it using FTP. Now do it cheaply at scale and make it work everywhere and then convince your non tech friends to use it.
Why bother with GPS when we could all use a map and compass? Dropbox made file syncing accessible to everyone cheaply and securely.
A massive part of the success of such startups are connections, connections, connections.
The product itself doesn't matter that much, considering all the pivoting. Nor does making a profit, considering all the startups still burning VC money.
Yes, there is certainly an amount of skill necessary, but the scrappy startup that suceeds against all odds is a fairytale. Luck, connections and moral flexibility play an equally or more important part.
It was a scrappy start up with a good product.
I'd much rather set up an FTP server, manually download my files, make changes, then re-upload, then manually download the new versions onto my other devices!
When you think back, cars were a silly invention. They have the same functionality as a horse-drawn wagon!