Why is Open Hardware Harder than Software

In software, the skillset (programming), culture (open source), and toolset (version control, email list, software modularity), need (programmers wanted Linux to use), and product fit (product has a good industry standard (Unix) to base itself upon) were already there.

In OSE hardware, the skilset (FreeCAD, machine design, open product design) is not there because there is no precedent for an open hardware enterprise. See Distinction Between an Open Hardware Enterprise and an Enterprise that uses Open Hardware.

Culture, open source, is not there due to 200 years of industrial inertia - when taken from the standpoint of industry transformation.

Toolset is not well understood, because it requires version control + Second Toyota Paradox, and simple tools of wiki-FreeCAD-Live Docs-Repositories are well-known but no project outside of OSE is generating a large-scale, collaborative, open workflow.

Need is not there, as most people cannot fathom that they can build the technologies that they use. It's a question of most people outside of the fringe envisioning this possibility. Even those who envision it (electronics, 3DP) don't comprehend the ramifications for the greater economy even though the origin of RepRap was built on this academic promise.

Product fit is not there - most people insist on designing without lifetime design and user serviceability. And keep designing as designers, not as engineers-designers-builders-users - resulting in continued consumerist design. There is no Unix equivalent for a new technosphere of civilization, because the system perpetuates unecological, short term design - as opposed to embodying a regenerative value set.