• but…why? Is it because interfacing between digital and analog representations of data, because of legacy systems, why are printers so annoying compared to screens and networks?

    • Because it’s legacy.

      People/companies have been expecting printers to die for like 30 years, but they haven’t, so only the bare minimum was done to keep them in working order.

      Only the industrial-scale one are “OK” because that’s the place where they’re expected to stay.