@argv_minus_one @econads @ian “Presumably” does a great deal of work in that sentence.

How much work has gone into taking general-purpose computers and locking down their capabilities in order to have payment gateways in place? A massive amount. Every iOS and Android smartphone, for example. Any system that has limitations on what software can be installed.

What company, in today’s capitalist society, having just developed replicators, wouldn’t put such guardrails into them? And use the legal force of patent protections to keep them there? And use their power to sway governments to increase those protections?