[adouglas]

On reflection you guys have a valid point. Sold. I've revised the Eighth Law:

If you need to keep referring to the user manual, the device is probably too complicated.

Also added a Ninth Law.

There is value in adopting technology that you understand.

That one is tricky, because so much useful technology is beyond comprehension for most people. It might as well be magic to them. So stuff you understand isn't "better" in the sense of utility, but it is "better" in that you know what's going on... and by extension, how to optimize usage, diagnose problems, and possibly fix them.

Carburetors are a good example. If you really understand how a carb works, it's a lovely, ingenious piece of mechanical art. If you don't, it's just a frustrating, cantankerous, fist-sized lump of metal.