It is definitely about tracking SPECIFICALLY YOU.

Target, one of the largest retailers in the US, has already abused tracking to increase targeted advertising to expecting mothers. https://bit.ly/3S3hlrA

A free person shouldn't have to articulate why they need privacy.

Privacy should be the default in free societies.

I can play this game though: you are pregnant, but have not shared that information yet with your family because it's early term and there might be complications. The grocery store accurately predicts you are pregnant from your shopping habits (change in diet, per-natal vitamins, "New Mommy Magazine"). The grocery store snail mails you a New Mommy coupon book as a "thank you." Your family sees this and confronts you, forcing you to reveal your medical status against your wishes.

This is a scary outcome WHICH HAS ALREADY HAPPENED. https://bit.ly/3S3hlrA

The commenter I responded to initially wrote as if they actively seek anonymity by taking several inconvenient steps every time they shop, even when they presumably have nothing to hide. I wanted to understand what drove that behavior and if it was worth it.

They don't have to articulate it, but inability to articulate might be a sign of overcautiousness / paranoia that is having a negative impact on their life.

If one has something to hide - then sure, take extra steps to be anon. Otherwise, why put yourself through so much trouble?

It's easy to interest people in maintenance if you pay them.

A quick search shows Bank of America turned a net profit in '23 of $6.9B. It would be trivial for them to pay a fleet of engineers $250k/yr+ for Java maintenance.

Ignoring maintenance is always a company choice, not a personal one.

Imagine the millions of dollars of destroyed property value in the area around the site.

At a minimum the rail company should have to buy out all the land at the day-before market value. You broke it, you buy it.

It's a lucky thing, for sure, but many upper-middle class people in the West take a few years off of work for various reasons now already. Sabbaticals, child care, travel, etc.

If human lifespans increase to many centuries, it would be reasonable to assume a productive person could take a five to ten year break every so often without losing too much ground to their peers.

Somehow, more human than human CEOs.

Please, show a little respect for Jobs here. /s

It may very well be the case that deep gravity wells are a necessary precursor to life!

Are there other known natural systems that push and mix pre-life molecules together?

Moons of gas giants might have life inside. Dunno if those are in what is considered a deep gravity well.

HSPP spending this kind of money and time to improve security is just a reputation protective measure.

I'd expect any casino, card room, or bank to do this regularly before I'd trust six figures with them.

For now.