- High skill level in "machine building"
That's inconsistent with current state of skill system in Cantr. Everyone can do everything, but some people are faster and the other are slower. So "repair conditions" shouldn't be so excessive. At least until we'll have whole system which encourages more to use every character's talent.
It's clear that machines should wear off in one way or another, otherwise we have eternal objects, which, once built, can last forever. So after one time effort there's no need to use any resources to maintain level of advancement of the town/factory.
Making only unused machines to wear off is good way to prevent "malicious" self-damage of most needed machines - which could be really annoying sometimes. Well, such problems and challenges are part of life and can be part of Cantr-life, but we should take care to make them rare challenges instead of boring everyday activity. If machine isn't used - which in most cases means it's part of large unused infrastructure - when it'd be more "fair" to break than the only one, let's say, stone table (ok, that shouldn't ever "break" but just an example). Limiting that only to most advanced machines: assembly line, lathe with steel blade, drill and so on would mean that only advanced locations should be threatened by that idea. It sounds reasonable: if you want to be advanced and cool, you should spend something maintain the current status.
It could lead to greater diversity amongst settlements. Now it is always better to build advanced machinery in order to... let's say, build just one car.
It's clear because:
"It's eternal, maybe some day in the following hundred years we would need it again or somebody will visit us asking about such machine so we will save some resources then and show, that we are modern."
"Ok, our village with 3 townsmen needs assembly line".
If it would be needed to maintain such machines decision wouldn't be so clear. Maybe it is better to travel to bigger town, where are enough people to maintain everything and make use of it. Buying a car there instead of building everything in your own location would result in possible division of duties, which sounds realistic and interesting.
I agree... this will ultimately just tie people up inside buildings.
I don't see that as a big disadvantage, especially we are going to do something to make sitting in building more comfortable than today. If sitting inside would be against idea of society simulation then it would be possible to do everything outside.
And I think that concerns are in large part caused by fact that machines are not deteriorating right now. If it would be implemented upon creation of the game then nobody will ever complain. I know, it's more pleasant to have everything easier and there are objections to the suggestions which make things harder to achieve. But don't like to play a game when it offers no challenge and I hope that you too. Economy simulation of the game must be developed together with RP part, because there are people who like both, but prefer that or that.