it's a cultural problem

Most problems are.

I am sure there are plenty of specialized functions that are hard to replace, but many are just applications that "do things the way they have always been done".

Never mind they can can now be outsourced better and cheaper. How many times have you heard of government agencies spending millions on upgrading systems that are essentially CRM systems, or even worse, payroll systems and the like?

I've also seen private companies go through great pains to "upgrade" systems, to replicate arcane "business logic", which could be more easily solved by changing the process to achieve the same results. (One little example - why track 5000 sales districts, sales, etc - to calculate sales commission levels. Just assign territories, count sales, run it thru a function and be done.)

Back to another government example - why is it so important that role be taken every single day, for budgetary re-reimbursement? (sure, keep role to make sure no kids go missing, but what does that have to do with the cost of running a school? The lights are still on, the heat/AC is running and the teacher is there if there are 18 or 32 kids in the class.)

Well, there ya go - in science, one counter example disproves the theory, right? Then again, this is more an arguing, and trolling thing... and those are not so easy to win.

People who have taken their unlocked phones to some of these other carriers, and wanted to keep their phone number - how quick was it?

I am thinking of moving, and I assume I can take my number with me... is it "instant" or does it take hours or days?

It's been mentioned, but I have actual metrics (Kill-A-Watt P3) on the electricity used by "old computers"... in my case it was about a buck a day (I'm in So Cal, so YMMV, but I am sure electric rates are going to go up here, since California is going to save the world from global warming [or go broke trying], all by itself, by taxing the bejesus out of anyone with two nickles, You're welcome.)

BTW - anyone with an old VCR or DVD player you REALLY don't use... about $18 year just to keep it plugged in (flashing 12:00 or not). I tossed 2 units in the Goodwill bin a couple of years ago and haven't missed them.

Don't play stupid. You know you don't have to sell this crowd on the pleasures of self-abuse.

Not to mention the "stuff" they make - products, that by design, are destined for a landfill sooner than need be; Glued shut to prevent easy repair, and no way to economically do simple things like replace the battery of a device that is otherwise perfectly functional.

If Apple made a car, they'd probably have a sealed engine compartment, "because it looks better" not to have that seam around the hood. Mmmph - they might not even deign put a hole in the car to allow access to the gas tank. Once it runs out of gas, buy another car...

I'll bet 100 on cockroaches! What's the prize?

If you are on salary, you can only waste so much time without being unethical.

If you are paid by the job, you can only waste so much time without being inefficient.

OTOH, in the cosmic scheme of things, you'll soon be dead, so pick your own balance.

If you make something artificially high priced, someone will supply it at a lower price. If the price is high due to high quality or branding, you get cheap knock-offs and trademark infringing. If the price is high due to taxes or legality you get very bad elements involved in the supply process...

It's too warm where I live to wear a ski mask - I am stocking up on Groucho Glasses!

I've saved a ton of money by not buying a single game since Quake II

You could do worse than nothing. Often they do the wrong thing instead.

Calling yourself a pirate does not make you a pirate.

Pirating from one who calls themselves a pirate, does make you a pirate.

You can't punish the innocent, but if they are both saying they are innocent, then one did it and knows it, and the other knows he didn't but is lying for the bother, so they are both guilty of something. If the penalty for "conspiracy to hide a crime" is the same as the crime, then no problem - convict them both.

The evidence shows one of them did it, yet they both deny it - both are guilty Q.E.D.