as Stephenson describes, almost no one is fit to judge. those who have had the revelations know, and those who critique without having immersed themselves, those who defend their gaudy high end consumer drills: they speak from false positions. they speak without having glimpsed the greater truer thing.
it does describe both unix & the unix enthusiast. we get to know our tools, there is apparent & unadorned solidity to them and a truthfulness in interactions & capabilities beyond what the gussied up consumerized product could create.
