Exactly. Instead of putting backdoor in only the computer going to China, why not just install back door in ALL the chips. Cheaper too. At this point, it won't surprise if all the computer has a hard ware level backdoor such as spectr/meldown. Not to mention encryption backdoor. Even state level player doesn't have the resources to take all that out. Remember when Snowden leak came out, Russian gov switched all internal memo to typewriters that shall give you an idea.

Because the average person isn't running a server on their laptop? It makes no sense to think that multiple foreign nations are currently connected to random individual's computers, and actively fighting each other in your silicon without anyone noticing widespread network connections.

Let's not talk about fantasy of what could happen, but whether it actually is happening right now on everyone's personal computers. No. It's not.

There is the cost of getting caught, and having their zero day no longer being NOBUS.