Quick Rebuttal

Michal Zalewski makes a number of good points in 3D Printing Revolution: the Complex Reality, but glosses over:

• additive manufacturing can make shapes that CNC milling and other subtractive processes cannot, especially given the disparity in forces needed between working metal and plastic - anyone who mounts a cutting tool on their 3d printer knows what I mean
• skilled operators and CAD software are sufficient to create designs, but CAD combined with simulation software and less skilled labor are probably also sufficient - especially when the simulation includes modelling the fabrication process and compute power will only get cheaper
• long tail applications may drive more demand than the industrial designs he thinks are necessary - no one wants to make nail clippers, they want to make custom iPhone cases
• the current open loop control systems will inevitably be replaced by feedback control systems as more low cost sensors become available - why hasn't anyone integrated cheap Chinese scale DROs into a printer yet?
• getting people to think about manufacturing their own stuff and avoiding the mass produced supply chain is a political struggle and far more important than the initial success or failure of particular technologies - he's coming from a big business "Maker" mentality, when the real action is with "Crafter" folk

Just my 2¢.