Hmmm.. Sounds like your the one with an axe to grind.
I don't quite get it. Are you saying that we should buy overpriced goods just so we can prop up inefficient businesses. What exactly is your beef here?
A classic example is the SMT paste dispensers. A foot operated switch to an adjustable monstable operating a pneumatic air valve. Only $4000. What a steal. Literally.
So many products in the SMT assembly process are over priced. They have themselves to blame. That said I'm not sure that the pick and place machine is one of them.
If you don't like the concept of this, then don't join in.
Cheers,
Peter.
-------------------------------------------------
Homann Designs - http://www.homanndesigns.com/store