iansjack wrote:
Nobody can force you to upgrade. If you think your computer and software are good today they are just as good tomorrow. So if you don't want the improvements provided by new hardware and new software, just stick with the old stuff. A 5250 is as powerful today as when it was first made.
Very true. A 5250 would end up in my collection simply because I want to do more then what it can provide. But I could nowadays easily get by with a system that's 8 year old. In the past you had to make that decision, either upgrade and do new great thing or be happy with what you have. Nowadays it might speed things up a a bit if you buy a new system, but there isn't a new killer feature that you just can't do on your old system. As a matter of fact, I find myself buying less powerful but more portable gear instead which still does what I want it to do and more.
What a wonderful time to live in...
On the subject of a totally "free" ecosystem... well.. the quote marks says it all. Impossible and even if by the grace of some higher power somebody would succeed. Then they would impose a license, somebody would steal it and put a license on it or some public domain restriction from a government would impose limitations. Even if it's not enforced.... it'll imho never be free in a pure ideological sense.