Should Amazon deliver orders with drones?

When the telephone was invented, people seriously asked "what, you're going to run **wires** all over the place just so people can talk to each other?"

Sure, the tech has a long way to go before it makes true sense, and who knows, perhaps Amazon will settle on something closer to the ground...but if we discounted every idea simply because we don't have the tech *now*, imagine how much more primitive the world would be today?

Agreed on most points.  However, there is a big difference with rolling out telephony equipment (high benefit, little if any impact) and letting drones loose in the air along with everything else that is already in the air. 

Unfortunately, human beings have a track record of implementing without testing thoroughly in all use cases (E.g. DDT, food additives, and asbestos).  I'd like the governments world-wide to step up first and, using established expertise, define/model/simulate/test local and international rules of safety and corridors of traffic before even considering further testing for commercial use.  That could take many years considering all the negotiation that would be needed and the inherent lethargic pace of governments.

Having said that, I hope you do not find me to be a technophobe.  I'll accept "paranoid".  But, sometimes, they are "out to get you" either because of intent (not this case) or due to carelessness (this case).  (-:

Agreed on most points.  However, there is a big difference with rolling out telephony equipment (high benefit, little if any impact) and letting drones loose in the air along with everything else that is already in the air. 

Unfortunately, human beings have a track record of implementing without testing thoroughly in all use cases (E.g. DDT, food additives, and asbestos).  I'd like the governments world-wide to step up first and, using established expertise, define/model/simulate/test local and international rules of safety and corridors of traffic before even considering further testing for commercial use.  That could take many years considering all the negotiation that would be needed and the inherent lethargic pace of governments.

Having said that, I hope you do not find me to be a technophobe.  I'll accept "paranoid".  But, sometimes, they are "out to get you" either because of intent (not this case) or due to carelessness (this case).  (-:

No different than people piloting vehicles along congested highways (killing quite a few people each year, I'll admit) under government regulation (driver's licensing, vehicle registration, etc...).

I agree with you completely that many products are released each year without proper testing.  Companies that release dangerous products should not be given a "statute of limitations" for liability (if their product causes blindness in someone, it isn't like the blindness has an expiration date).  It's a difficult balance between government regulation and self regulation among corporations that are under business pressure to release before their competition.