3. It handles cases where an item was brought locally, but is manufactured half way around the world.

how long would the chinese government last without the support of a reasonable chunk of the chinese military...

...what on earth has the processor got to do with whether a system is open or not? ARM is supported by Linux and is used in the majority of smartphones and mobile devices - including "open" ones like Android phones and competing "pads". Don't be fooled by the "A4 Custom Chip" thing: since ARM doesn't sell chips but licenses system-on-a-chip component designs on a mix'n'match basis, all ARM implementations are "custom chips". Unless, of course, you have an inside route to Apple and know something we don't about the A4.

Apple doesn't give a flying fuck about the odd hacker who installs OS X on their Dell Mini, as long as they don't try selling them commercially (sorry, I take it we're just trading bald assertions here, since you're not citing any evidence either).

In other news, ARM do ultra-low power mobile/embedded chips - they haven't designed high performance desktop/high-end laptop chips since some time in the 90s. ARM simply isn't an option for the top end iMacs, MacBook Pros and Mac Pros. The whole reason Apple shifted to x86 (at great expense) in the first place was that IBM/Freescale weren't producing competetive processors fast enough.

Then there's other factors such as continuing support by developes such as Microsoft and Adobe on which the Mac market relies, and the big selling point that Intel Macs can run Windows via dual-boot or virtualization if needed.

Of course, it is possible that Apple could decide to ditch the "proper" PC market and concentrate on "appliances" - but that would mean handing a large section of its customer base over to Microsoft.

Apple sells shedloads of kit to consumers because Apple understands that consumers want their music players, phones and web browsers to be as easy to use as coffee makers.

China is effectively building new power infrastructure while most of the world either doesnt have the money for developing a power infrastructure, or already has one. Hence they are leading the way in "green" power, as the new plants built in china arn't significantly different to the new plants built elsewhere, but it is expensive to replace existing power plants simply because the new tech is "green". Also how is Iceland (who afaik run (almost) everything with their abundant geothermal energy) not the greenest country with respect to energy supply...

what right do you have to enter the bar?

The DMCA doesn't apply to the UK... Atleast read the TITLE...

The servers were probably partially up for testing, reviews etc.

There were no doubt some people who NEEDED access.

The alternative for works of art is what was done before mass distribution became possible. Patronage and live performances...

The problem is that it is being used internationally. Why should the FBI, even with a court order in America be able to search a PC outside of America. It also sets a nasty precedent as other countries could argue that if the FBI, etc, claims this is legal then their local law enforcement could perform searches of property in America without involving American police etc.