NotKyloRen

For a long time, you couldn't really buy an unlocked phone straight from the manufacturer in the US. The closest thing was importing one is with the correct network bands (GSM), but that also kind of went away when VoLTE became a requirement.

Relatively recently, some manufacturers started offering unlocked devices sold straight from them, but it wasn't until Apple started doing it with the iPhone that it became a mass-appeal/well known thing.

So overall it's because:

• That's just how things were for a long time
• Carriers offer deals on their locked devices
• 2-year carrier contracts were a thing until the mid 2010s or so
• People are just used to their carrier being a one-stop-shop

Nowadays more people are aware about buying an unlocked phone instead of a carrier firmware/carrier locked device. But in the US I'd say most people only know about iPhones being offered unlocked.

Same specs as you except 5800x3D. Same sentiments at 1440p.

And it's been the default here in the US, historically and culturally (for puritanical reasons originally, and now because it's "the norm"). Absolutely barbaric practice. "Yes, please mutilate my newborn baby because *checks notes* having a foreskin is unhygienic and looks weird compared to what I'm used to seeing in porn."

It sucks because that's also Google and their products/services. So it's like jumping from one shitty platform into another in the context, except the other one is more niche.

Yes, but he's straight for pay.

No. As a user of both Amazon and Google devices (with screens/sticks), Amazon is far more aggressive in their advertising practices. As the other guy said, neither is ad-free out of the box, but Amazon devices will literally make your screensaver/lock screen a full screen ad (even on your TV). Google just has a home screen ad about something that's going to play on streaming, usually.

If you want NO ads, set up DNS ad blocking or get an Apple TV and use that for streaming. But again, Amazon's devices are FAR more aggressive about advertising as much as possible. My father has one of those Echo Show things that's a speaker with a rotating screen attached to it. It's playing ads almost all the time.

He's trying to instigate a war so that he can be a wartime president. On all fronts. I'm sure he would rather it be a domestic matter, but he's clearly happy to start one internationally, too.

Black people: *exist*

Racists: NOOOO YOU CAN'T DO THAT REEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!1!1!1!!!

I didn't realize it was Aspyr (like you mentioned, I'm familiar with their earlier Mac ports of Windows games). Still sucks.

In Germany you're paying to access the bathroom, not the "privilege" of wiping your ass

They (Steam) offered Bitcoin payment, but pulled out because of what you said. They were covering the changes in fluctuation, but ultimately it was too unstable. I recall a statement from them saying something like, the value fluctuated too much during the brief checkout process, even.

They're going to try every medium/platform possible. The only way to tackle this is to teach critical thinking. Easier said than done, I know. Otherwise we board up the internet "for the children" (which is currently happening).