>I find 3D printing in general an exciting technology, now that it's
>getting to the maturity level where it actually does interesting and
>useful things and doesn't cost an absolute fortune. I think it's
>right on the cusp of becoming ubiquitous, and that's kind of my
>favorite stage in a technology's lifespan - mature enough that it's
>usable without the unending screwing around required in the hobbyist
>phase, young enough that it still has that oh-holy-shit edge. Not
>that I expect 3D printing, in particular, is ever quite going to lose
>that for me. I mean, a desktop 3D printer is a toy that makes
>other toys, which is like the living dream of everything
>six-year-old me ever wanted and 40-year-old me still pretty much does.
> I'd get my own Replicator 2X right now if I had the three grand
>kicking around.

A friend who is a 3D printer hobbyest (or at least a bit so) notes that 3D printing is one of those enabling technologies -- not only do many small problems start to look like problems for 3D printing, but things you hadn't even realised were problems yet do.