<i>The question, then, is if one is designing a mass-market computing device, is the ability to tinker with it going to produce enough good in the world to offset all the misery it causes to other people?</i><p>Excellent question!<p>I would answer yes. I would also add that I think Geeks often under-estimate how much simple tinkering non-geeks sometimes do.<p>The number of competent windows and macintosh users is constantly increasing. Even for those outside geek circles, this basic competence can be a jumping-off point for further tinkering.