[Xperia Z2 Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Chefproll:
Ricky and Hasenbein: You got me a bit wrong... (But if I write late at night, it might be easy getting me wrong. :D)

You both know how rooting is done, I know. Unrooted Android devices are just like cars you're not allowed to open the hood or even the trunk; short: unbearable.

I am a former software developer, and a professional technical writer and perception psychologist - maybe this helps you a bit understanding my points of view.

First: I really don't like calling novices "noobs". The term "noob" has a negative connotation, it's a typical four-letter-word, a cuss word. Thus "newbies" are quite reluctant asking for vital information - just because they don't want to be called a noob. So they don't ask - and then brick their devices. Just see this thread as a real-world example.

We all were "noobs" at the beginning.

But we read and read, spent lots of hours with the topic, we tried and failed and sweared till we finally succeeded. Or not. :)

So we walked quite some miles. Because we had sufficient time and commitment for doing so. And because we already had a bunch of experience with other devices up our sleeves. So we're part of a quite small group of people having the needed background knowledge.

Others don't.

Shouldn't we help them a bit ? If we do, more users could enjoy the benefits of a rooted device - without having to ask "noobish" questions or bricking their devices, forcing them to ask more "noobish" questions - and shining a bad light on rooting: "Rooting is dangerous".

No, it is not. If people exactly know what they have to do, and what to avoid.

So why don't we tell them ? - Using a language everybody can understand.

Result: More root users = less "noobish" questions = less bricked devices = less fear of rooting.

And: More root users = more money donations for developers = more incentives for developers = more and better root applications, faster development.

It's simple.

Ok, we took the long way, we had to gather information without any greater help, we put much effort into this. It's just natural we expect others doing the same: We had to work for it, so they should work for it, too. A plain normal human attitude.

But a bit selfish, don't you agree ? ;)

Some months ago, I bought a Nexus 7 2013, needed a quick way of rooting the device because I left for a longer Asia vacation right the next day, filled with blogging activities. So I really needed a fast solution. I found a kind of all-in-one package, a "Nexus root toolkit" (or similar), don't remember who did it.

Perfect one ! A kind of menu with buttons to click: "Click here for checking device communication", "Click here for installing missing drivers", "Click here for unlocking the bootloader", "Click here to root", "Click here to unroot", "Click here for locking the bootloader again", "Click here if your device does not respond/boot anymore", "Click here to restore factory state".

Step by step, every step explained, every step to be done by just clicking a button. A package for "noobs". And for people needing a fast solution.

And working perfectly: Just everybody would be able to root his device, "noob" or expert.

THIS is the way it should be, a sound way for improving device usage for many, many users. And for showing manufacturers: "Hey, we're no minority anymore, so stop trying to lock us out if you want to sell in the future !" I just think of Samsung; with an ugly feeling in my guts. They're getting worse than Apple. BECAUSE root is just done by a minority they can easily choose to ignore. And it will be getting worse.

Take Sony as an example: Sure they support rooting the Z2 a bit, but they don't support unlocking the Z2's bootloader without losing DRM keys and X-Reality. A BIG turnoff. I just don't want to lose X-Reality because it's one of the very, very few video enhancements which really work.

But if more users were interested in rooting, Sony would be urged to provide a better solution. Not necessary at present: No greater demand - no greater effort.

Because rooting is still too complicated for the masses.

So: Shouldn't we try making all that things a bit more simple ? Like I saw with the "Nexus root toolkit" or whatever it was called ?

If we help others, we help ourselves at the same time: Mutual beneficial.

If we don't, we'll lose more and more of the ancient Android freedom because manufacturers will ignore our needs more and more.

That's why I wish to suggest trying to find some easier ways. :)

What I could do: I am a writer; I could provide simple explanations and instructions, I could also translate English documents into German.

What about you ? ;)