When I was about 9 or so I became extremely interesting in computers. I wasn't afraid of them....and I broke them over and over usually to the dismay of my family. Now I know how to do advanced things properly...but computers are very fragile and easy to break. This has to change for normal users, the Applet Tablet and Chrome OS are steps in that direction.
People want stable machines that never break no matter what they do. Once we actually get to that point, maybe people will stop being so afraid but we aren't there, their fear comes from experience of things breaking on them.
Sounds exactly like me. When I was 10 I dismantled my ZX81 to 'see how it worked' and broke it of course. I then got a ZX Spectrum to keep me from crying about it which I also ended up taking apart, but managed not to break.
I think I conditioned everyone in my family to be more afraid of letting me near electronic equipment with a screwdriver than the equipment itself.
People want stable machines that never break no matter what they do. Once we actually get to that point, maybe people will stop being so afraid but we aren't there, their fear comes from experience of things breaking on them.