THE media kept talking about flying cars and taxis some years ago, especially in countries that are only rich because of oil (which they now drill back into the ground or give away at a negative price). Tesla hype is noteworthy also; we're supposed to believe a company that generates so much in losses is in fact worth a fortune and people with no job security (or no job) will invest in some 'smart' thing. Many of them don't even drive to work anymore.
"Considering people spend more time indoors, in their own homes, one might as well just purchase a laptop with GNU/Linux (the employer cannot easily impose Windows on people)."This whole 'yuppie fantasy' associated with consumerism (buying newer and supposedly better things) has introduced many patents but not many sales (the EPO, WIPO and USPTO love bragging about such patents) and it's geared towards surveillance and remote control, not freedom or net benefit to drivers/passengers. Tesla -- like Uber -- isn't worth any more than the banner standing in front of its manufacturing plants. Its chief has gone so insane that he's willing to support fascism the way Ford and other industrial 'geniuses' did when the Nazi Party rose to power.
Free software has long preached modesty and simplicity. GNU tools are deliberately rudimentary, albeit modular and highly versatile. They withstood the test of time, unlike the vast majority of proprietary software (which can barely be made to even run on today's computers). Instead of dreaming (or fantasising) about flying in a car -- a very energy-inefficient thing by the way -- maybe we need to adapt. Heck, even planes are barely flying anymore. Who out there is booking a flight right about now? Exactly. Almost nobody. Likewise, who buys a 'smart' phone for like $1,500 at some Apple 'store'? Considering people spend more time indoors, in their own homes, one might as well just purchase a laptop with GNU/Linux (the employer cannot easily impose Windows on people).
Stop dreaming of flying cars and other silly gimmicks like self-driving/autonomous cars. Would you rather watch a film instead of keeping control of the car and keeping your eyes on the road (to avert accidents/disasters)? After all, any incidents inside and outside the cars affect you physically. And they can kill pedestrians around you too, holding you accountable. ⬆