Because I own a Rancilio Silvia espresso machine, I was delighted to find an article on modding the Silvia in the latest issue of Make. (The story tells you how to add an accurate temperature regulator to the otherwise approximate system that's built into it.) The fact that there are mod instructions for the Silvia reinforced my opinion that I have the "right" machine. Many coffee geeks believe [reviews; more reviews] it is the best mid-priced machine available (which is how my wife picked it out for me in the first place), but even if it wasn't, I'd still feel like it was the best machine for me, since other geeks and hacks own it.
The same is true with other products, the iPod being the best example. Is it the best machine of its kind available? Perhaps not, but it's the most popular, which means it has more accessories available for it, and it also means more clever people have taken to modding and hacking it, extending (theoretically anyway) the utility of the device.
Some devices, even if they are not inherently hackable, become de facto targets for modders simply because they win an audience of people who like to improve the tech they own, and who like to share their experiences with other people who can appreciate their work. Thus, closed products become open.
