I think the part you're missing, is how expensive the Pi is now.
Buy one with a psu, and you're 100 to 150.
Buy one with a psu, and you're 100 to 150.
See my other comment, pi5 2 GB is about ~10% more expensive then when 3 or 3b got released when factoring in inflation. ~60 EUR including 25% VAT.
With PSU it's 77 EUR including 25% VAT right now.
4 GB version + case + 64GB SD + PSU = 135 EUR, but I don't need that much ram, disk space or the case. When I put it into a 3d printer I also don't need the PSU.
Unless you want your printer to power up on demand, then you need a separate PSU and an SSR (and you still need a buck converter because printers don't supply 5V at required amperage).
However, there is no way it's 10% more expensive than the original Pi with inflation. It's easily double, if not more.
You can buy low end tablets significantly cheaper now. A tablet with a screen, more ram, storage, a battery.
A Pi is a rip off, for what it costs to build.
It's not like they make the OS or kernel either. They basically copy and paste Debian, and add some fluff modz, most of it OSS they didn't write.
https://www.amazon.ca/Expansion-Octa-core-Processor-Touchscr...
https://www.amazon.ca/Raspberry-Pi-8GB-2023-Processor/dp/B0C...
rPi3 40 EUR form 2016 is now ~52 EUR adjusted for inflation.
Compared to 62 EUR for the current model rPi 2Gb.
Cheapest tablet with larger then 1gb ram locally is around ~85 EUR. All prices including 25% VAT.