3D printing: a controversial future

Wow, of all the innovations I have ever seen in cartoons and theory, 3D printing took me by huge surprise. A machine that builds? It seems so basic but the scale is inspiring. The technology began in the 90's through programs like AutoCAD and further by laser printing, and is literally the largest breakthrough I will ever witness in my entire life. The world will be absolutely driven and challenged by machinery and as we become more isolated society will dissipate. Thus, both sides of mankind are called upon; one side to build and build while the other nurtures and commands. Interesting stuff!
Below are a few of my ideas on the impact of this up and coming phenomenon:

• Replacement body parts
• Car frame and fabrication (see my electric car blog)
• Less footprint on mother nature by mankind (less smog from factories)
• Construction (long term goals, of course)
• ***An artistic revolution (similar to nerds overtaking the music scene)
• Used in Space in lieu of a garbage bag of tools
• Unlimited supply will drive demand for luxury goods down
• Designers aren't paid personally: you can buy the best designs from anywhere in the world
• Hospital equipment decreases in value, health care more affordable
• Printers controlled by cell phones: more compatibility and ease of use. (App for that?)
• Time saved in going to stores and no cash involved in transaction, just electronics
• Salespeople are eschewed out of product markets, technology tweaking is the new wining and dining
• Cheap to buy for personal use (wi-fi printers under $1300 at 3dsystems.com)
• Machines become creators, we automate our lives and stop needing to work.
• Ease of creating complex parts that normally are next to impossible (natural hinges, interlocking parts, etc.) as well as inherent color schemes
• Creation of food by machine??

Now, the bad

• Plastic 'legal' guns (already capable of shooting .38 caliber bullets!)
• Non-functioning and cheap products sold to unassuming customers
• Much less work and laziness ensues, meek inherit the earth
• Designing robots to be humans (I honestly see this happening very soon)
• Retail and MSRPs are challenged, forcing many stores out of business
• Jobs and human empathy lost
• Machines become creators, we automate our lives and stop needing to work.
• Overpopulation and poverty

Hopefully learning what we can do with it won't outweigh what we should do with it, but I really can't say I feel good about this. I am all for technology, but what are we really trying to accomplish? Funny how much mankind works when all we need is food and shelter....