What does the terminal really give you that you can't get from various other data sources scattered around the Internet, like your brokerage's own API, third-party data sources, various forums and subreddits, ...? Is it just the real-time firehose nature of the thing?

For instance, Bloomberg provide you with:

- real-time data on financial instrument prices;

- real-time news (own and syndicated);

- an email address (firstname.lastname@bloomberg.net) used to email and chat with other professionals on the Bloomberg network. This is like LinkedIn and WhatsApp combined for people in finance, and people can keep the address for two years after e.g. losing a job, so they can use the network to find a new role.

- analytical software: tools to calculate various KPIs to assess and analyze business opportunities.

- capability to transact: The BB terminal is not just an information system, it also permits you to buy and sell directly.

(My university has one BB terminal that MBA students can access and get training on.)

this answers the question pretty comprehensively i think. https://theterminalist.substack.com/p/bloombergs-7-powers-an...

The big one is that almost all of those data sources are subject to a 15 minute delay...

Structured, deep and wide

You get the chat: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49286955