“What do you actually need it to do?” That one question can simplify a process so very much. The outcome as a whole can become simpler, when features which are not necessary for this to be able to do are discarded. The outcome can become cheaper, as less resources are required to perform fewer functions. The outcome can become untangled from ‘political’ factors such as who might have a vested interest in things happening a certain way, or who might expect to derive consequential benefits of various kinds. The outcome can arrive sooner, as less needs to be done — in simpler ways — with fewer dependencies — to make it happen. The final result is likely to be more flexible, as it is less burdened by specific (unnecessary) features — and so by implied limitations — than a poorly-targeted or very generalised solution. For a very simplistic result, rather than buy a new PC, this 3rd-hand desktop box over here, with this video card plugged into it, plus these two 3rd-hand
Linux Advocate in Western Australia