it isn't that cheap, and it isn't that easy

trust me, I wanted to try one as my disertation :P Skipping the DOD interview woiuld have resulted if it ever got beyond the bad idea stage, the cost would be more than sending a dozen shmucks to Embry Riddle. (Flight and aircraft tech school in Florida my sister went to.)

And even if it was, let's say that the fear of EMP increases cost of consumer electronics 25%, and doubles thier weight. I can increse the cost of the device by 10% and smoke them. Or just let everyone be afraid, pushing thier paranoia until an iPod is the size and cost of ENIAC (adjusting for inflation). It which point RIAA is very, very happy.

Non issue, becuase realistically, there is nothing you can do to stop it passively. If there is real world EMP detonation, I'm more worried about my bank records than my mp3 player.