I totally get that I just think there is a lot of value to the tinkering being possible on the device they use for everything else.
How many kids got a PC to play games on but while bored found QBasic and Gorillas.bas.
How many kids on MySpace or NeoPets learnt HTML/CSS as a way to customize their profiles.
This all used to be a reality when kids grew up using a general purpose computing platform, now the choices are a Tablet that works as a general purpose platform you can't tinker with or a board you can only tinker on but not use as a computer.
I agree. But a tablet is only possible because you can't tinker with it( hardware limitations, how would you fit connectors etc in it?). The software side of things could be better but you also have to keep in mind that an RPi makes both hardware and software tinkering on a very cheap package. Tinkering with software on an old PC was possible but tinkering with hardware would risk a fairly expensive machine.
How many kids got a PC to play games on but while bored found QBasic and Gorillas.bas.
How many kids on MySpace or NeoPets learnt HTML/CSS as a way to customize their profiles.
This all used to be a reality when kids grew up using a general purpose computing platform, now the choices are a Tablet that works as a general purpose platform you can't tinker with or a board you can only tinker on but not use as a computer.