The one downside to Framework is that they're nice laptops and (precisely because they're repairable and upgradable) they hold value really well... which means the second-hand market exists but isn't an easy way to score dirt cheap hardware. I can drop $200 on eBay and get a good thinkpad; I can't get any Framework anywhere close to that.
A potential problem for the used market is that, as people upgrade individual components, they are left with used individual components, which are potentially harder to sell than an entire laptop. And as, so far, the major component upgrades have been of the mainboards, it seems like there could be a glut of those, while it seems possible that a used chassis may never be easily available.
As more component upgrades other than motherboards become available, however, it may be that a more useful used market could develop. And it may be that building a 'used' laptop may end up usually involving buying a few new parts. For example, having, over time, upgraded the top cover, hinges, mainboard, battery, wifi card, RAM, and SSD, if I upgrade the display and camera with the soon-to-be-available new modules, I think someone could build a full laptop with my old parts, a bottom cover kit, an input cover, and some fasteners; it may be that the bottom cover (and fasteners) are the only parts there that would need to be purchased new, as I expect other people have replaced input covers (some of my keycaps are starting to degrade, but they actually degrade rather gracefully)
But still, this would be more complex than simply buying a used laptop, and would need a marketplace for all of those parts. I know there was some discussion from Framework hoping someday to facilitate a used component market; that seems like it would be challenging, but on the other hand, Framework seems to have been steadily, actually pursuing the goals they have laid out.
Eventually it should be possible to get the expensive components secondhand at good prices. It would be cool if Framework started selling a bare-bones kit where you could add your own mainboard, screen, etc. That should be possible to do now by buying parts individually, but I don't think it would be a good experience (or cost-effective).
Framework does sell factory seconds for as low as $500 right now, though they need a few more components to be functional.
> It would be cool if Framework started selling a bare-bones kit where you could add your own mainboard, screen, etc.
I'd second this idea. Could be doable by just making every component in the DIY edition optional during configuration, though I don't know how much that'd impact their current manufacturing flow (given that even the DIY edition laptops are mostly preassembled).
The one downside to Framework is that they're nice laptops and (precisely because they're repairable and upgradable) they hold value really well... which means the second-hand market exists but isn't an easy way to score dirt cheap hardware. I can drop $200 on eBay and get a good thinkpad; I can't get any Framework anywhere close to that.