It's all fine and good that folks of all ages are "learning" about 3-D technologies. But there's also a very fine line in the sand, regarding whether these technologies will gain traction with the masses. I guess time will tell.
Case in point... 8-10 years ago, companies like HP and Epson began offering wide-format (24"-44" width) printers to professional photographers and serious photography enthusiasts. Some models even offered the capability of printing on different materials such as fine art papers and canvases.
As I've always said here, the devil is often in the details. 
While it's great that these technologies were made available to more photographers, there is no free lunch in life. Creating large format images correctly requires constant calibration of the equipment (i.e., color management is critical) and printing large posters can be a challenge when ink-jet heads clog and/or ink cartridges run out of certain ink colors in the final stages of printing a huge poster. 
Don't ask me how I know. 
I know many a photographer who now would rather use labs who deal with large-image printing EVERY DAY when they need to source the production of their large and fine-art prints. Sure, it may cost a bit more for each print... but they also don't need to outlay $$$ for the purchase/maintenance/supplies of their own in-house printer.
I can only imagine similar issues are lurking with 3-D printer technologies as well. So at least proceed with both eyes wide-open if you're gonna dabble in these technologies. For those who like to get down-and-dirty, the technology can be very rewarding. But if you tend to live happier in the "ready-to-run" segment of the market, then you're much better off buying the finished product from a known supplier, and let them worry about the false-starts, wasted supplies, and frustrations that come with the territory of producing niche products in larger economies of scale.
Just because you "can" do it, doesn't mean it's always the right choice that everyone "should" do it.
Meanwhile, have fun, all you early-adopters!!!
David
