> On Feb 24, 2015, at 2:23 PM, Phil Pugliese (via tml list) <xxxxxx@simplelists.com> wrote:
>
>
> I with Richard on this.
>
> Additionally, I think the economic system of the TU of the TU works better if the 'better' items *always* costs more.
>
> Now, a TL15 item probably will always be cheaper on Rhylanor than on Regina but, on either planet, TL9 should always be cheaper than TL15.

Why? TL15 production systems have enormous improvements in efficiencies and capabilities.

Simple, real-life example: a complex machined device. In 1940 it takes a skilled craftsman several hundred hours to create, or 20 less-skilled ones on an expensive assembly line to make it.

In 2015 it takes one CNC mill and a few hours assembly time.

By your reckoning a 2015 Chevy should ALWAYS cost more than a 1957 Chevy and both should still be available new. (note that ’57 chevy costs around $2500, about $20-25,000 today.)

There’s a ‘Dream Cars’ episode of ‘How It’s Made’ where they show (iirc Lambo or possibly Ferrari) engines being made. No humans actually touch the engines until it’s time for final assembly. EVERYTHING was done by robots, at amazing speed, at staggering tolerances.

The internal combustion engine is a TL5 or 6 device. Yustabee cars would make 100K miles and fall apart, engines needed maintenance every 5-10K miles.

100Kmiles is nothing today, and lots of vehicles don’t need much maintenance until 35-40K. Engines put out an order of magnitude greater power at an order of magnitude less weight. And they cost roughly the same new, or even less.

Seriously Discovery channel runs marathons of How It’s Made episodes on the weekends, watch them, you get a serious feel for manufacturing processes, both old AND new, because they also cover things made largely by hand.

--
Bruce Johnson
University of Arizona
College of Pharmacy
Information Technology Group

Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs