/diy/ - Do It Yourself

I don't know how to ask this, but it seems that every open source hardware project is easily beaten by older proprietary hardware that is hackable. It's way cheaper, and it does better in everything except maybe form factor and power usage, and that's only occasionally (linux still does worse in power management for my x86 hardware). Hackable hardware is like my vape which can flash custom firmware (arcticfox firmware for joyetech devices). I bought a tmobile 1900 to flash to AC68U because it was hackable.

rPi is cool for $35 but you can do much better emulating on a cheap netbook. All the nerdy stuff can be configuration with a good router anyway (merlin/tomato compatibility). The more open eink devices are easily beaten by flashing an old kindle. Every arduino project is stupid and I still haven't seen any use for them aside from LED controllers.

Is the best for DIY electronics simply cracking hardware or getting corporate sponsorship? I have flashlights with custom firmware too which seems to be working with corporations to create cool stuff (shameless plug for FW3A, a cheap flashlight with good fw). My question is sorta how you feel about this and what's your method? To find the stuff with the best specs that you can unlock, or find hardware that is open source that you can contribute to? The best ones seem to be from corporations, got any "hackable" electronics you care to share?