Yeah, but what if I WANT to turn on my coffee-pot from my office computer before I leave work, so it'll be fresh and piping hot for me when I walk in the door? What if I'm working late and I want to tell the home heating system not to turn up the thermostat at 5:00 like it usually does, but wait until I'm ready to leave work?

Once the capability is in place, someone will start trying to market it. Historically, people have come up with these wonderful ideas for new technology without any thought being given to the security or privacy implications. (The recent furore over cameras in cellular phones being used to invade privacy and steal PIN numbers comes to mind.)

Don't get me wrong, I think the person who ranted this rant is more than a little paranoid. But it would be a mistake to assume that no one will ever want to buy a remotely programmable coffee maker or thermostat once the technology is available, or to assume that Procter & Gamble will design it with adequate security precautions (unless they're forced to).