There’s a lot of reasons to make your own project even if something similar exists. Differing codebase, feature roadmap, UX/UI direction, contributor politics, or even because they want to make something from scratch to add to their portfolio.

More options are better for everyone.

I think an open source paper cnc machine similar to a cricut would be way easier to replicate than a standard printer.

At least dealing with some portion of the problem is a good start and we’re still inventing new methods of dealing with microplastics, so until nearly all the trash is gathered larger trash cleanup efforts are worthwhile. Apparently 92% of the mass is made up of larger objects, so these need addressed first anyways.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_Garbage_Patch

True! Oniomania is not the same as an economic system that sets those with capital above others with less capital.

There are definitely some economic systems that might help both though.

Source-available isn’t the same as free and open-source. You might not be able to distribute or modify as you like to the former and may have any sort of license provisioned with further restrictions.