Why did they only focus on hardware/software control and totally miss the digital assistant line. Do you remember Bonzibuddy? Everyone seemed to love that, but Alexa has no equivalent. Also, those hologram AI displays been out in japan for a decade, and nobody made a US version for Alexa. https://www.gatebox.ai/en

I couldn't see using an echo when I had my phone/pc that does everything.

Now an entry into the home could have been a digital assistant on the PC, Hologram, tv or app. So many ideas for profit streams, open API for 3rd party digital assistants with fees attached, alexa tv's running an app with a visual digital assistant, run the app on a tablet and see a digital assistant.

Even if it was a novelty, a little animated person standing on the countertop is way more interesting than speaking to an echo.