Pfffttt, Microsoft has been there, done this, and got a whole closet full of tee shirts for stuff like this many times over the years. In the end the users don't care and can't stop it. And they are, by in large, too lazy to change to something else to completely avoid it.
It hasn't ever affected the bottom line enough to matter to them. They will just pull this bug feature and wait for a better day. Or perhaps they will figure out a way to introduce it piecemeal to disguise it better.
It's not so much about lubrication as it is about trying to prevent seal wear. When the wiper seal gets worn and can no longer keep the dust and grit out, the rolling elements have little time left.
If the bearing as lubricated correctly at installation time, it should never need re-lubrication. But it's important to keep the rail surfaces clean. And it's amazing just how dusty those rails can get and just how abrasive that dust is on the bearings.
I don't lube the rails, it attracts too much dust. But I do wiper the rails periodically. I replaced the linear rod bearings and rods on my old and trusty Mk3s+ after almost 3500 hours of operation this last winter. Though I should have probably done it a bit sooner.
While I don't think the way Texas has the regulations setup is a good idea, one has to look more at the 'whole picture' and do the math. Is the low cost periods low enough that when you get 'gouged' by the spikes, what was the total average cost? If the spikes are taken as a average over time, then maybe it works out in the consumer's favor or at worst break even, then it might be worth it. Or maybe it doesn't But I honestly don't know. I don't have the numbers in front of me to do the math, I'm a 1000+ miles away from Texas.
Edit to add: I don't know just how much extra electricity Texas will need to buy, but I would assume they will be buying a noticeable amount. And the cost of electricity is VERY expensive in the spot market. It's why my co-op is doing major upgrades to the hydro-electric dam. To increase the efficiency and reduce the need to buy expensive spot market power.
And without a good way to store the excess power generated, solar and wind aren't very good for peak loads. You can't merely flip a switch and spool up more power than a solar panel or wind generator can produce. Clouds reduce efficiency, insufficient or too much winds shut down wind generators. And despite having more alternative generation than everyone's hero - California, it still not enough to carry the whole load. Consumers are raising demand far faster than enough infrastructure can be built out to supply that demand. So for peak loads, natural gas generators are used because they can be turned on and off quickly as needed. This adds excess cost.
The installation of storage batteries farms is fantastic. But it will take time and it will add cost to consumers electric bill.
And despite some tankie's beliefs, nothing is free - it all costs something. I'm a member of a tiny rural electric co-op. The co-op needs to make a profit to afford maintenance and upgrades to our tiny grid. Our power is generated by a hydro-electric dam and my rates have gone up this year to to cover the costs of some major maintenance on the dam and the addition of 3 new linemen to keep the electricity flowing to my heat pump that the co-op incentivizes and highly encourages.
I have seen 2 different articles that claim WinAmp is NOt going to be open sourced. At least in the common sense. But rather kind - of - sort - of - but - not - really.
You are surprised? We argued over tomatoes being a fruit or vegetable and if they are a vegetable, then ketchup must count as a serving of vegetable. So the argument over tacos and burritos being a sandwich only surprises me in that fact it took so long to argue about it in court.
Mistakes were made. It happens, OK? I'm quite certain Bing won't let THAT happen again......../////
For my, VERY limited needs for the tiny bit I have dabbled in programing or even just help with some Linux issues, I've been using Phind. It seems to work a whole lot better than any of the other search engines. But my needs can't really twist the tail like real programmers.
For PLA and PETG, I like MatterHacker, though I have been buying some Voxel PLA lately and that's been pretty good stuff too. Voxel does run sales that get the price down to $15/$16US a kilo.
For ABS/ASA, I'm still using a the same kilo of Zyltech ABS I bought 5 or 6 years ago. And I still haven't used 200g yet. I did dig it out this weekend to print a couple dozen custom cable clips for my boat with it though.
I ain't no programmer, but I was a toolmaker and ME that designed machines to be used in factories. I learned to not be surprised at how operators could find new and interesting ways, (sometimes dangerous), run the machines I designed and built. They did things I never would have dreamed possible or meant with them.
I haven't been to Winnipeg in a long time, since before COVID. But I do get to Fort Francis when I go to the 'Falls. I miss the days when we could just pass the border without the hassle it's become today. I used to have family up in Roseau years ago. Might still be some shirttail outlaws up there.
My Daughter works for a non-profit too. She does research on not only public charging for vehicles, but also HVAC systems for homes across the US. I have also had to swim in the ocean of paperwork of state and federal grants. Few survive the experience for long. May God 'ha mercy on your soul!