> Key problem is that we've allowed a company that's always been this way to form a monopoly.

I don’t think anyone “allowed” them - quite the opposite. They’ve made generational bets that ended up being right, bets that IIRC the industry did not agree with for a long time. Them pursuing CUDA resulted in a draw down of something crazy like 75% of their valuation. They bet the farm multiple times to get to the point they are - and it’s only “obvious” in hindsight.

If you want folks to make generational bets as a matter of course (which I think most folks do), centralizing the downside of those bets and socializing the upside of those bets is not a great strategy. Almost as bad as socializing the downside.

Competition will eventually close that gap. We’re only a few years into this thing.

Monopolies don't naturally decay, competition can't close the gap against an entrenched titan that can either buy or asphyxiate them.