**edit**
GooberNumber9 said most of what I'm about to say in a crosspost.
ubertar wrote:There's no reason computers can't be made to be easily upgradable and last for more than 20 years, other than it means less profit for the manufacturers.
well, it would also stifle technological advancement...
ubertar wrote:I'd spend more on a computer built to last, that I could replace parts for to add power and speed over time.
When you say "computer", are you talking about just the metal case that it comes in? I ask because most computers can still be modified to add power and speed over time, to a certain extent. But, at some point, the demands for more power and speed demand rethinking the architecture. We're talking about technology that is SIGNIFICANTLY more advanced than a vintage mic preamp or compressor. I'm really glad that the computer industry hasn't just settled on "fast enough" or "powerful enough" just so they could maintain backwards compatibility with old tech.
I understand that some people don't give a shit about being on the bleeding edge of technology. But, the idea that today's tech, which sees EXPONENTIAL growth in speed, power, and performance, should resemble the tech of the past, which was much more linear in how it achieved a working design, and then refined that design over decades, is kinda ridiculous.
Faster computers come out every year. Nobody in the audio industry is required to buy a new computer every year in order to keep up. A new computer purchased today, should and likely will, still be supported by most professional audio software companies for at least 3 - 5 years. In 3 - 5 years, the basic architecture of that computer will have probably changed (for the better) to allow dramatic increases in power and speed vs. what it's capable of today.
I buy a new phone every year or two. The technological advancements are typically things that I'm interested in, and they improve my life and my ability to do my job. But, that's my choice. If you just want to make phone calls, AT&T still offers copper landlines and you can get a wired telephone from the 1940s that will still plug into it and work.
Nobody is forced to upgrade any of this stuff. If what you have is working for you, then ride it out. But, at some point, if you decide you want the new bells & whistles, like current version Waves plugs, you'll have to invest in a machine that's capable of supporting those bells & whistles.
I upgrade my studio computer approximately every 5 years. That seems pretty often compared to a microphone preamp that will still be as useful in 40 years as it is today. But, we're not talking about microphone preamps. We're talking about technology that is still advancing quite rapidly.