We aren’t really sure where that devil will take us. Nobody knows the long term consequences of proprietary software/hardware and allowing big tech companies to collect our data, but I do fear that it could become an enabler of a big brother-style government (a la Orwell’s 1984) or a society portrayed in Bladerunner where megacorps operate as unaccountable mini-empires as government and the rule of law collapses. I fear a future where we have no control over the proprietary tech being inserted inside our bodies and we dramatically limit our ability to work and communicate without that tech.
However, I do disagree with Stallman’s strategy for how to fight that devil in his essay on Install Fests. I totally agree with Stallman on the importance of talking about the philosophy underlying free software, but I also know that 95% of people won’t be convinced until they actually use free software and free hardware, and can see the practical benefits. Switching to free software/hardware is not a binary choice for most people and most people aren’t willing to make that switch if it means giving up the convenience and functionality that they already have. Getting most people who are already using proprietary software to start using free software means convincing them to first install LibreOffice, Firefox, Inkscape, Blender, Gimp, VLC, etc. in Windows. Then, it means installing a dual boot system with Linux and Windows. Then, it means getting rid of that Windows partition and running the last few Windows programs in WINE or in a virtual machine inside Linux. Then, it means no longer needing any proprietary applications. Then, it means valuing freedom enough to buy hardware that no longer needs proprietary blobs. Then, it means buying open hardware, even if it is less powerful or more expensive.
It is a long evolution to get to the point where you value freedom and are willing to put up with inconveniences, less functionality and higher costs to gain it, but most people will never start down that road if they don’t start somewhere such as installing LibreOffice in Windows or installing Linux with proprietary blobs so they don’t have to buy a new laptop just to try out Linux.