Why is Open-source Software More Important than Hardware?

Hardware devices change over time in more predictable and observablable ways than software code. They become dependable and trusted as long as they do not easily brick. We do not reasonbly expect our phone to weld on itself a sharp blade-wielding appendage, cover itself with a camouflage cape, hide in our home potted plant, and lie in ambush for an unsuspecing member of our household to pass by within its striking range.

Software, on the other hand, does exactly that. Instead of losing utility with age, it grows new functionalities with each update like tumors. And, what any next mutation might turn the software into, nobody knows.

But, we can surmise from past experience: consequitive software updates turn devices into surviallance apparatus.