>What is the long term and sustainable way to operate an indie(ish) hardware company?

The reality is that unless you have a specific niche. Most wont made it or will be acquired by Big Tech. It is much easier to earn money in "Bits" and then invest into "Atoms" than the other way around.

I honest dont believe what the thread say will happen. About iPhone being broken down into separate pieces ( bundling and unbundling ). Unbundling will happen, but likely not in the way it was described in the tweet.