Hardware Wallets are becoming a luxury

[PrivacyG]

I was looking today at some prices of current generations of popular Hardware Wallets and to me it looks like it is becoming an actual luxury to own one these days.  Particularly B S Wallets like current Ledgers.

At this point does it not make a lot more sense to simply use an old computer or laptop and set it up as an Airgapped Wallet, even for very large Wallets?  It is not only free if you already have an older computer but it does not come with problems such as some thing becoming too old and out dated.  Before, it was a small expense to protect any budget.  Now it is becoming a very fancy device that does not only cost too much but also looks fancy enough to be one of the first probable targets of a 5-Dollar Wrench attack.

[julerz12]

I guess that's one of the impact of massive exposure the crypto-space has been bathe with.
Businesses will always think of ideas to monitize that popularity and that includes making fancy hardware wallets with touchscreens, 55 inch OLED displays, adding feature nobody wanted ^{(cough* Ledger Recover)}, and a support for a gazillion of altcoins. I wouldn't be surprised that one day, one hardware wallet will be plated with gold and diamonds and will be sold as "the most luxurious hardware wallet a crypto billionaire can buy".

[Hatchy]

I was looking today at some prices of current generations of popular Hardware Wallets and to me it looks like it is becoming an actual luxury to own one these days.  Particularly B S Wallets like current Ledgers.

It seems that the design of hardware wallets is getting more attention than their internal security features. I question whether people even understand why they need a hardware wallet. A hardware wallet is defined by the fact that it is offline and never connects to the internet. Still, you must store it safely, just like any other storage method. Regardless of how stylish your hardware wallet is, revealing it in public is a risk that makes you a threat. Today, people often prioritize luxury over privacy, leading to many issues with securing their funds. I'll rather create an airgapped device than focus on the today's hardware wallet progedy.

[zabzob]

The only advantages I see in hardware wallets over an air-gapped laptop is portability and the use of secure elements. Apart from that, the popular HW wallets have increasingly turned into shiny bling. As for secure elements, it seems to me they can be more of a liability than an enhancement in some cases. So now we have the hardware wallet businesses dropping devices with 2 or even three different SE's. Will we see 4, 5 SE's in the next generation of wallets? Soon the wallets will be bigger than laptops, with all those (in)secure elements.

[SFR10]

At this point does it not make a lot more sense to simply use an old computer or laptop and set it up as an Airgapped Wallet, even for very large Wallets?

I can argue on both sides since it depends on someone else's knowledge and skills to properly set up an airgapped wallet ^{[unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all solution]}.

Before, it was a small expense to protect any budget.  Now it is becoming a very fancy device that does not only cost too much but also looks fancy enough to be one of the first probable targets of a 5-Dollar Wrench attack.

You have a point, but lower-priced HWs still exist. Concerning the latter part, I don't get why some users flash their HWs in public or brag about their wealth on various social media platforms, but most reputable manufacturers offer some kind of decoy wallet as a solution.

[ABCbits]

At this point does it not make a lot more sense to simply use an old computer or laptop and set it up as an Airgapped Wallet, even for very large Wallets?  It is not only free if you already have an older computer but it does not come with problems such as some thing becoming too old and out dated.

It makes sense for people who're willing to setup airgapped device and don't mind the some inconvenience (usually about sending unsigned TX to and signed TX securely). Hardware wallet remain better option for average people.

Before, it was a small expense to protect any budget.  Now it is becoming a very fancy device that does not only cost too much but also looks fancy enough to be one of the first probable targets of a 5-Dollar Wrench attack.

Cryptocurrency is more popular these days, so all that matters for criminal is recognizing your hardware wallet appearance.

[_act_]

At this point does it not make a lot more sense to simply use an old computer or laptop and set it up as an Airgapped Wallet, even for very large Wallets?  It is not only free if you already have an older computer but it does not come with problems such as some thing becoming too old and out dated. 

If you can convert to Linux OS, it will be a very long years before you will see the computer become too old not to support the wale anymore. I can still remember the Windows 7 that Electrum is no longer supporting, you can convert the same computers to Linux OS and continue to enjoy your Electrum on it.

But also it is airgapped, no need to continue updating the wallet. This makes it different from online Electrum wallet