I mean, it's marginally better than having to pay or sign up to Backups or Rewards, but yeah, still not great.
octobersun
Consumers can only get 1 year.
It'd be great to switch everyone to Linux, but 'just install Linux' doesn't fly for a lot of people. I volunteer in a repair cafe and see it first hand, even if you're there to do it with them
Check out https://www.repaircafe.org/en/visit/
Also https://directory.repaircafe.us/browse/cafes/
If you're in the US, also search for 'Fixit Clinics'. Same idea, different name.
Permanent repair spaces like Fixing Factories are a move in this direction https://www.fixingfactory.org/
Totally agree on the importance of skill sharing.
Sharing skills and knowledge is a big part of RC culture. The idea is 'fix your thing with someone' rather than 'get your thing fixed'. But it does vary from place to place and fixer to fixer.
In the London Restart community skillshares used to be common - fixers gathering together to share what they know (soldering skills, PAT testing, Linux, fault diagnosis, that kind of thing).
Also check out the move towards permanent fixing spaces like Fixing Factories - https://www.fixingfactory.org/ - skills training is a big part of them.
Big Tech companies are essentially arms dealers.