Comment Re:I don't see any difference between software... (Score 1) 123
I agree that liability isn't a problem (you use it, you are responsible), but cost certainly is a problem.
The bare minimum to develop open-source hardware (assuming you want something with flashing LEDs, not simulation) is 1) a cheap FPGA board, and 2) a FPGA development tool. To do anything decent, you need to spend a couple of hundred of dollars for the board, but fortunately the tool comes free ('web edition'). This may be enough for developing something moderately complex - say a digital audio player.
However, if you want to develop something much larger, say something like a decently-sized microprocessor with some hardware acceleration, that's about 10k for the FPGA board and another 3k for tools. Add in some more tools, and it goes beyond your average hobby.
Of course some people can shell 20k for some hobby, but that results in a lack of users, and thus, collaboration (e.g. feedbacks, bug reports, contributions). If you are going to try some new software, the hardware cost you are going to spend is normally zero. If it doesn't work for you, you just wasted a day or two.
If you are going to try some new open-source hardware, that requires 10 grand. If it doesn't work for you, you wasted a whole month trying to build it, and all you have is an expensive piece of crap.