Many manufacturers that previously offered proprietary bas now espouse the benefits of open protocol systems, saying for example, that open protocols allow endusers to buy from various sources, and they allow various systems to be tied together to perform seamlessly. Other benefits, they note, include increased speed, power, and flexibility.
But not everyone agrees that the open protocol systems are performing as well as advertised. Some engineers and manufacturers say that open systems are much more complex to design and install than proprietary systems. That complexity, they note, makes it almost impossible for an enduser to make any changes to a system without hiring a programmer. People in this camp argue that endusers often prefer proprietary systems because they are less costly and easier to use and service.