[zetalyrae]

> The author's call is that we acknowledge this subjective side.

I think that acknowledging the subjective side is a necessary step to making more rational choices. If you don't know your motivations, you will be a motivated reasoner.

When you can add "I like this tech because it helps me build an identity I aspire to" as an item in the pros column, you realize you no longer have to.

[neilv]

> When you can add "I like this tech because it helps me build an identity I aspire to" as an item in the pros column, you realize you no longer have to.

But, for many of the cases of using-obscure-thing-instead-of-popular-thing, that's not a factor.

Not everything divergent is hipster impulse. Nor is everything about slotting yourself into a clique category in high school.

Which is why I asked for clarification on what was being said.

FWIW, I use a vintage ThinkPad mainly because I can type all day on it without problem. The serviceability is also nice. I also own a sleek high-end last-year's P1 and an X1, both of which I think would look more attractive in cafes and in some ways fit my ideal self-image better than the T520 that I choose to use instead. Currently, due to the inferior keyboards, I might use the P1 or X1 only if I need to do a startup meeting with a 20-something who doesn't already know I'm good despite being over-30. That choice would be the image one, and it's not about validation or aspirational identity, but pragmatic gaining of acceptance despite prejudice.