I feel the media and most people miss the big advantage of 3d printers in the hands of everyday inventors, makers, and students. It give the small guy a way to PROTOTYPE parts to prove a concept and once it proven go the next step in manufacturing. I know a few stories of high school kids using a 3d printer to help a handicapped student with a problem she was having with her gait trainer, the saw a problem, went to their engineering lab, design a few ideas for clips to hold her backpack away from the gait trainers pivot point so it would not get pinched. after 10+ design they found a clip that solved the problem. They also have use 3d printing to print a sprocket assembly for their high mileage challenge car.

This is a huge challenge for us that use these printers to educate lamestream media/public on the potential of this technology, It will never be a production machine, but a design tool to create new innovations and products or 1 off custom parts.