MERCHANTS OF COMPLEXITY

Summary from the TLDR newsletter

It's hard to sell simple because it looks easy. Clever and sophisticated beats basic and straightforward most days in the market. These products imply there is something special, which allows them to command premium prices. Tech companies tend to turn basic problems people could easily solve for themselves quickly and cheaply into challenges that only a sophisticated solution can solve - usually with a subscription. People can escape this cycle by deciding that all the extra complexity isn't worth it and daring to be basic.