Open Source and Free Software

I see it as an early example of more sophisticated designs and materials that will eventually exist. For example, I keep thinking of these guys, who will print designs for you in stainless steel:

http://www.shapeways.com/materials/steel

So, I imagine that eventually there may be affordable 3d printers for metals, and/or perhaps better plastics, etc. No 3d printing tech I'm aware of can equal the strength of "real" firearms, but we can clearly do better than this current "1-shot" design even now.