Hey Nick! Respectfully, your analysis is spot on - but as far as it goes. Here’s an alternate perspective. If there were only one dichotomy at play then the future for mechanical timepieces - as with clocks - might indeed be grim. But is it as simple as ‘digital immigrant (great term by the way!) versus digital native’? Perhaps not.
Another view might hold that there are several, or many, dichotomies at play. For example: those of any generation (immigrant or native) who value history versus those who simply do not. Those who value artisanship in any field versus the economic rationalists who favour efficiency in production. Those who aim for individuality, even eccentricity, rather than mundanity or homogeneity - and on it goes.
Think of the humble knife. The knife is almost pre-historic; almost everyone the world over has encountered the knife. It pre-dated, and will post-date, the digital revolution. In the present it can be mass-produced in affordable, good quality, ever-sharp and low maintenance ceramic designs for any purpose. Logically, there may be no better iteration. Yet people of all ages in their millions elect to buy and use knives of steel; they seek out the quality, expensive brands; many even search out the hand made Damascus steel blades; and this notwithstanding the nuisancesome maintenance and replacement issues.
Generational? No. Nature/nurture even? No. Case in point: pplater Jrs #2 and #5 are as fiercely interested in mechanical wristwatches and vintage sheetmetal as their father; pplater Jrs #1, #3 and #4 not one whit. Yet all are modern young adults with a natural facility with all things such as the Interfacewebthingy, bitsofcoins, Ms Siri and EFT.
As one wag said (when asked if digital print would replace books and magazines) - the invention of the escalator did not result in the demise of the stair. Fear not, Nick; at least one of your great-great-grandchildren will prize your still-valuable PP MR!
😉
Cheers,
pplater.