I think OP is in the US, we don’t really have chip and PIN here per se, transactions are authorized real-time with the bank. We only need a pin if it’s a debit transaction, but most transactions are handled through the Visa or Mastercard network, even if a direct withdrawal from a checking account.

It appears that maybe these guys were copying the videos they licensed onto whatever medium the customer requested and shipped direct. Sony wouldn’t have any leverage over them as they didn’t go through any of their authorized distributors.

For perspective, $99 a video in 1976 would be the equivalent of over $500 today.

Just watch out for ATMs offering to do the conversion for you. Not sure if they exist in Canada, but they’re all over Europe. If offered, simply deny the conversion.

Foxconn was a losing proposition from the start, as they were intending to bring a low margin commodity product to WI (led display panels).

Like Intel in Ohio, Micron will be bringing in higher margin products, albeit with huge federal subsidies. I’m not a fan of the public money, but it’s an investment in national security to bring back manufacturing capacity from Asia.