Other people have already addressed the waste portion of your argument. The part that I’d like to address is the “expertise needed”. I completely agree with how difficult it can be to learn. I mean, just calibrating your printer can be a whole job. However, I don’t think it’s necessarily something that everyone would have to have a printer to get the benefits of the tech. I already see many people that sell “3D-Printing services” I have my own 3D-printer, but I have even paid people to print certain things for me. If people can find 3D-printable files (thangs, printables, thingiverse) then they can get someone to pay for much cheaper and faster than ordering a rare part overseas.
Other people have already addressed the waste portion of your argument. The part that I’d like to address is the “expertise needed”. I completely agree with how difficult it can be to learn. I mean, just calibrating your printer can be a whole job. However, I don’t think it’s necessarily something that everyone would have to have a printer to get the benefits of the tech. I already see many people that sell “3D-Printing services” I have my own 3D-printer, but I have even paid people to print certain things for me. If people can find 3D-printable files (thangs, printables, thingiverse) then they can get someone to pay for much cheaper and faster than ordering a rare part overseas.