What benefit(s) do they get for taking the time to learn about configuring their PPC Macintosh so that it is tolerable to use on the Internet? FYI I am not interested in any answer which relates to hobbyists, enthusiasts, or those who have specific needs to use one.
While attempting to keep in line with my own words, and seeing as how this discussion isn't likely to end anytime soon after all, I'd like to input one cent on this point only...
For starters, they would begin to learn how a computer and the Internet works. This is especially relevant in a scenario where something has broken, and their favorite vendor (in this case Apple) has closed all their storefronts due to an event such as this one.
What are they to do? Throw the computer away because they can't find anyone to deal with their problems for them?
To me, a "stupid" person would embody someone who relies on a certain tool to build their very livelihood, yet has no idea how to repair or reconfigure said tool when something goes wrong with
it, or the
world, in this case
both. Which ties directly back to user configuration, be it setup, service, upgrade, you name it, no difference.
A malfunctioning computer due to user negligence, a misbehaving website element due to an addon
they made the decision to install, a blown tire, no matter what they are,
there is never any excuse for a lack of personal responsibility.
I could understand such behavior by Johnny Appleseed back in the 1990's when home computing was still a rather alien concept to many, but now that we're in the fully digitized 2020's and
still have virtually the same problems
three decades later of user indifference, unwillingness to learn, and digital irresponsibility, I would at this point say that Johnny Appleseed, Joe Smith, Mary Jane, and all their grown children have no excuse and are borderline lazy for continuing to promote this charade of individual helplessness and dare I even say victimhood of the ever-moving technological ribbon always sucking the money out of those who insist for the newest product, year after year, and meanwhile the world wonders why it's always been in debt.
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But to answer your question a little more directly, the benefit the average user receives is that they will often learn something in the process, enlightening them. Empowering them. Something they will never get many opportunities to do when everything is already made easy for them, when they don't need to flex any mental energy to accomplish any task at all.
So as the saying goes, "use it or lose it".
Then again, maybe that explains the annual hordes of consumerists every time the latest iPhone is out ...