Brophog –
Good posts. But also keep in mind that the auto industry has seen many innovations over the years that didn’t come from simple “need”, but “want”, and improving parts to the point that they are at their limits but still wanting MORE…. So you have to innovate. And we now see cars being designed to drive themselves, fly by wire systems, and more.

So while I agree with much of what you say in both posts above, and you do have great points, I have to disagree that innovation simply comes from a need. Think about it, the hopper innovations didn’t come from a “need” to feed faster, but a WANT to. Which in fact goes against all of the points you made. Those changes were not out of need at all.

Sure they needed to be made IF the wants were to be met. But the reason for the change was not “need” but indeed simply a WANT.