Quote Originally Posted by Melanie View Post
People used to make (and still do!!) Crystal Set Radios despite the fact that tripple-superheterodyne receivers with digital displays probably cost the same amount of money as the Retail price of the sum of parts for the Crystal Set. Why? To learn something. To get a sense of achievement and accomplishment. Just for the fun of it.
Having been the author of a dozen practical projects that have been published in the Silicon Chip magazine, I can truly appreciate the term "Just for the fun of it". I have been involved in some way or other with DIY electronics for the past 10 years. My main motivation has always been for "a sense of achievement and accomplishment" Some of my projects have been sold as commercial kits. Two of my most recent use a PIC16f877a.

There's always going to be some people around, perhaps 1 in a 1,000 that are wanting some involvement in electronics as a hobby. Problem is, when 1 in 1,000 becomes 1 in 100,000 sources for it as a hobby will vanish. Magazines, books, kits (already starting to happen), parts and so on.

Like anything else in this World, it's a mere case of "supply & demand". It's what makes the World go round. No rocket science here.

Best Regards,
Trent Jackson