Like, ages ago? Google has been called out on their shady shit tons of times, it just doesn’t have much of an effect because Chrome isn’t as objectively crap as IE was. It works and it’s familiar, for most people that’s all that really matters. They have “NotHiNg to HidE” after all.
Directed energy weapons already exist today. They’re mostly experimental, but the US and Germany (and possibly others) are both investing millions into R&D and have working prototypes.
Sure, but the Fairphone 5 is €700 and, ease of repair aside, you can get a better phone for less than half the price. Repairability doesn’t mean much when buying a cheaper (and otherwise better) phone and fully replacing it ends up being, well, cheaper.
For the record - that’s generally also how it works in Europe. Or well, Germany at least. Also there are independent ATM companies (Euronet and the like) not affiliated with major banks who charge outrageous fees to everyone desperate enough to use one of their ATMs.
I don’t pretend to be. It just strains my willing suspension of disbelief beyond the breaking point. I don’t even know why it’s the spore drive that does it instead of telepathy or fucking Q, but it is.