[TML] Personal Armor Noise was Re: Current USAF fleet

[Stuart Frew]

A perfect example is in the end user computer industry. There are some

> 'mass producers' (coff dell coff) that build a passable machine, but
> miss the boat on fit and finish. There are a small few that can
> produce a quality box with astectics and durability. I posit three
> levels mass market, mass production, and artisan produced.
>
> Mass market is like ford or chevy. Not the best fit and finish, buy
> functional
>
> Mass production is like BMW or Mercedies. Really nice.
>
> Artisan is like a Rolls Royce. Perfect, and you pay for that
>

If we posit that the Imperiums economy has similar distinctions then
interstellar trade could be based on the transfer of artisan produced goods
as these would be based on a unique and hard to reproduce resource, i.e. the
sophants involved in production.

Most reasonable tech systems can set up automated factories and produce
teddy bears by the container full and there would be no reason to ship them
to another system.

However the carefully hand crafted teddy bear made with finest (hand made)
materials may have a market in another system.

Sure a machine could make them cheaper and probably perfectly but its often
the imperfections and how the artisan uses them that gives a object its
depth and allure.