I love the idea of Shapeways, and find the company so convenient. In the short term they are going to grow quite a bit, but in the 5-10 year time frame, where will their growth be as more and more consumers begin buying their own quality 3D printers for their homes and offices? On the other hand I think Thingiverse may be a better longer term bet as models will always be needed, and eventually an entire 3D model marketplace could be worth billions.

I do know that Shapeways has many large investors, most who are very smart, and able to understand trends. Will there be a need for a printing service 5-1o years down the line? Will Shapeways be forced to change their business model substantially?

Opinions?