Sure, you cannot stick to your mature piece of software but if you're arguing new developments, then compare those to new hardware too. Far more costly and time-intensive prototyping, engineers cost pretty much the same and nowadays you get to develop firm- or software on top of it. You also cannot create low-cost income streams by implementing subscription models (well, some car vendors try but that's big tech too).

Software. Is. Cheap.

[–] RedditWanderer@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago

Thats because you define software by whatever successful startup comes a unicorn. There are millions of software companies that never make a billion dollars. Theyre still a software company making a product that doesn't become free.

Youre also mixing total cost versus margin. Nobody is saying software is more expensive than hardware