How accessible is local AI actually, and what happens if affordable access to frontier models doesn’t last?

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Sometimes it’s easy to forget that this sub and others like it are probably the extreme minority when it comes to this hobby. Most people, I would think, don’t use or can’t afford one good GPU, let alone multiple GPUs, Mac Studios, Sparks, Strix Halos, etc. Is the average tech enthusiast or maybe we’ll even say prosumer, actually using local AI? If they are, what are they using? Everything is backordered right now; The M5 Mac Studios have wait times out from Late Oct all the way to Feb if you re