Originally Posted by RobbieTunes

It could be a government thing.
Privately designed, a concept that has been proven to work, a product with good intentions.

Manufactured by government contract, with delays and cost over-runs, inadequate oversight.
Build in some corruption/cronyism, less than anticipated quality. Overpriced, but now out there and unable to be stopped.

Then we'll design a program to to buy them at the inflated prices and give them away to some people who need them and some who don't.

roccobike, you're brilliant.