On Tue, Feb 13, 2018 at 12:17:26AM +0000, Phil Pugliese (via tml list) wrote:
> However, the 'ocean' in the OTU is a 'wall' that blocks
> insta-commo.Which is NOT the case w/ a real ocean.

You don't need insta-commo to ship compact high-tech items over a
medium where the rate of variation in demand is slower than the speed
of communication anyway.

Yes, it might add a few percent to the price of the item, and if you
want an ultra-special order then you might have to wait longer for it
to come from the system where it is manufactured.  But for the bulk of
the trade, there will be a relatively steady flow of items, parts and
so on, as well as nearer distribution points with enough stock to
cover typical variations in demand and upstream supply.

There may be small-scale facilities for manufacture-on-demand a couple
of systems away at substantially greater price for even those special
orders.

Slow communication alone is not a factor that would drive prices
substantially up or availability greatly down.  There would have to be
other factors as well, not yet discussed in this thread.

- Tim