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There are billions of computer users across the world, but only 100 or so technobarons who want full control over our computers. Full ownership absolutely can happen. It was the standard for a couple decades in the past, and it can be the standard again in the future.

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It was the standard when it didn't matter and was just a hobby thing for nerds or academics. Now it's "serious stuff" with billions of regular users who use it for real life stuff.

Without having evidence, for or against your point, I'll confidently say both that you're wrong (about the just for nerds/academics thing), and that mainstream computer use makes demanding full ownership even more important.

You wrote "It was the standard for a couple decades", I'm saying that was so because the stakes were lower, it didn't reach the attention threshold of important enough people who can lobby effectively. Also the zeitgeist is no longer where it was in the 90s and 00s.

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