Yes, someone would have. Eventually.
But valve did it early.
It's easy to fill a niche once it's formed. Not so easy to do before, or as it's forming. Or predict if one will form.
I'm not saying valve or Gabe had some kind of foresight or wisdom, I still think it was a gamble. It just happens to be a gamble that worked.
When my neighbor still drives the truck for the company that shot my son for taking an illegal sip of rain water, my neighbor is the enemy and will be judged for his complicity.
I'm sorry, do you think Europe will be unaffected by global climate change?
My 4 month old laptop has hdmi on the back, ethernet on the left, four usb 3.whatever slots with two on each side, two USB c slots on the right side, and a microsd slot.
I think it even has a 3.5mm headset jack but I'd have to get out of bed to check. I don't have any peripherals that use 3.5mm anymore though so it's just a nice little bonus.
She will never forgive me for making her my mother's potato casserole.
"general era of one's birth" has a lot more impact on well... everything... About a person's life Way more than "time of year"
You are way more likely to be similar to the people born in the 5-10 years around you than to people born 50 years prior but in the same month.
But hey, as long as it's just for fun and you aren't basing major life altering decisions on things.... Why would I care if you like giggling at the little blurbs in newspapers about how ridiculous capricorns are when mars is in retrograde.
Oh man, Bunnicula was probably the first book I ever chose to read of my own free will, not because it was in my parents library, an assigned book, or gifted to me.
First grade me had no idea what choosing a book would do to your desire to read.
(the point you were making)
Their head
I'll be honest, I thought Ohio would be higher...
One of two things is going to happen when companies decide they own (all) the fresh water (and people become desperate)
Either the company hires enough goons and/or thugs to keep their "investment" safe through lethal force and scare the plebs away, possibly ~~employing~~ ~~bribing~~ "lobbying" governments to do it for them
OR
The people who are right there next to water sources they are being told to pay more than they can afford to drink from will arm themselves and overwhelm the defending forces with sheer numbers, resulting in an internationally covered bloodbath, kickstarting Water War 1 as other companies rush to beat back any perceived defiance, nations attempt to secure access to fresh water whether it's on their land or not, and normal people prepare for the worst.
I'm not a data hoarder, I just don't like deleting something that I may want to open at some point in the distant future...
Did...... Did you down vote your own comment? I'm still not sure how federated votes work, but for me on startrek.website it says 0 up 1 down.