I think the fact that enough users are using LAN mode and firewalling the printer off that it's less useful as a CCP data theft vector is a more credible explanation.

The new interface code, running on your host computer, is much harder to firewall off than just a whole device.

Bambu's filament offerings are extremely price competitive (except perhaps their PAHT-CF / PPA-CF) and are well liked for their consistency and reliability-- they're not something they need to protect with any kind of lock in... and if they would being able to send to the printer directly from orca/etc. hardly threatens it.

From a lockout perspective the uploader shim won't work anyways, as it will quickly be reverse engineered to extract the certificate. But what it will do is keep most people's prints going through code that can send copies home to China or act as a backdoor to enter interesting systems on a highly targeted basis.

Aside, it's pretty interesting that bambustudio is unusable in qubes, all the GUI dropdowns instantly close when you click on them -- it's literally the only Linux program I've encountered that doesn't work.

I highly doubt this was the reason. There have been a number of Chinese clones of their peripherals that I think they're trying to lock down. This sucks though. Hopefully some good open firmware exists when this eventually bites me.

I couldn't bring myself to pay the premium at the time, especially with the slow rollout of the MMU. But now with multiple printers in my fleet, I might be kicking myself shortly. We all knew some of this was a possibility, unfortunately.

Which prusa would you recommend for someone switching from a bambu P1S? Primary requirements are single-color PLA and PETG with a comparable ease of use, speed and print quality.

How is it a grift?

If it's better than the competition (which others suggest) then it's no surprise that the sales of others might suffer.

That’s not what’s happening.