I am just trying to provide some perspective on your specific problem and point out where your rant is blinding you into holding onto beliefs that are not true.

1. The problem with your wind instrument is a custom produced chip containing custom software. B&G is a completely different company with different owners two times over since your instrument was current. Do you really expect them to continue supporting that? Do you even expect them to have any idea where/if that program exists in the company and how to get that chip made again?

2. B&G's new instruments fit right into the old cutouts (I just did this myself, so I know what I'm talking about), and the cables are thinner and fewer than the old ones (a single cable for as many instruments as you have, and that one cable can carry more data than you can supply it). Yes, they use a different communication protocol, but the new protocol is an industry standard that is cross-platform and has been in widespread use for over a decade now. NMEA0183 is almost completely extinct, and will be extinct in a very short time. Do you really expect B&G to hang onto an extinct and isolated protocol? If so, then you should hate your current NMEA0138, because that succeeded an even worse protocol - shouldn't you be ranting in favor of those people 30yrs ago that got "stuck" by the "greedy corporation" when they made a change? Besides, your wind instrument isn't even NMEA0183 - it is a completely proprietary differential signal that is unique to your specific instrument. That itself is worthy of a rant - and you should be happy to have the opportunity to move away from that.

3. Again, a single $350 Triton display with a single thin cable will replace your entire Network display suite and provide you with more functionality. I did exactly this, so I know what I am talking about. If manufacturers were trying to wring you dry, why are they producing stuff like this instead of making you buy 3-4 separate displays at the same price each?

4. Nobody is making electronics with an expected 5yr lifespan. You made that up with no supporting data or even circumstantial evidence. Feel free to hold that belief if you must, but it is not true. I expect many of these instruments to last longer than the older generation because they are built more robustly and contain fewer components. Indeed, the manufacturers are advancing their stuff with features that are designed to pull people into upgrading rather frequently, but they are not degrading their gear with planned destruction dates to move people who don't want to upgrade.

5. There are people out there with 40yr old instruments using mechanical cables to turn dials, etc. Will you rant for continued technical and parts support on their behalf? My old Loran doesn't work and I can't do anything about it. I also have a GPS that no longer has the ability to use the newer satellites launched since it was made in the late 80's. Where does it stop?

6. Companies go out of business for NOT doing what you are ranting about. The list is legendary and long. Even Raymarine succumbed to it, but were resurrected by FLIR - who made them change their ways and become competitive again.

7. Suffering low grade products are the result of bad choices. Using your examples, Garmin makes no attempt to hide the fact that they charge you for free charts and hold you to only their format. Other manufactures approach this differently, and one simply needs to read the marketing brochures to know this and choose appropriately. West Marine is universally known for selling cheap Chinese pot metal. Other, more professional, gear is made differently, but one must be prepared to pay for that quality (and you should have a leash on your fishing gear even with the good stuff). I personally would never rely on any marine "professional" to install anything without micromanaging it or just doing it myself. Most think this is a universally accepted truth in boating. You have choices and must do minimal research on them and make good ones.

Your car analogy is without perspective. Back in the days, EVERYONE was working on their cars all the time (or having them worked on). They needed tuning for all changes of season, all changes of operating altitudes, changes of components, wear of components etc. Nowadays, actually having engine problems with a car is rare. I might postulate that the money spent on tows and new computers today is less than that spent in the past just keeping the things running. I would also suspect that most people NEVER have to replace their automobile computer.

Mark