I don't find these ideas really contrast as much as they initially appear. Curtis advocates optimizing for some absolute best when shopping for stuff (which as a hobbyist product reviewer I find a bit absurd; few products are one-dimensional enough for that). Marlinspike talks about the value of unplanned life experiences.
There's a middle way for a lot of product categories: find an enthusiast community and get their recommendation for a low-cost and beginner-friendly product. It's often listed in their FAQ. The gap between enthusiast-grade and mass-market products in some categories is huge, while the gap in price may not be.
There's a middle way for a lot of product categories: find an enthusiast community and get their recommendation for a low-cost and beginner-friendly product. It's often listed in their FAQ. The gap between enthusiast-grade and mass-market products in some categories is huge, while the gap in price may not be.