Your "to be completely fair" was, for me, the reason Dropbox was a valuable tool.
I know that I can set up FTP to a remove host and store files. I'm sure I could write Automation scripts that looked for updated files, opened connections and uploaded files when I saved them. Then more to regularly open a connection, poll for updates, and initiate downloads. On all my computers, at least. I'm sure that'd work.
With dropbox, I don't have to invest the time to do that, or to keep it maintained. I don't have to think about it. And I have seamless access to these files on any machine I go to, as well as my mobile phones. It's simple, and as I haven't exceeded my 20GB of free space, it costs me nothing.
Yes someone else has my files. But if I bought a virtual server from a hosting company someone else would still have them, and if I used a single machine at my home, it's susceptible to the whims of my Internet provider, a modem/router failure, and the added complexity of getting and maintaining a static IP address to allow the connections (as well as spending more time to harden and protect that machine as it's exposed to the Internet).
I know that I can set up FTP to a remove host and store files. I'm sure I could write Automation scripts that looked for updated files, opened connections and uploaded files when I saved them. Then more to regularly open a connection, poll for updates, and initiate downloads. On all my computers, at least. I'm sure that'd work.
With dropbox, I don't have to invest the time to do that, or to keep it maintained. I don't have to think about it. And I have seamless access to these files on any machine I go to, as well as my mobile phones. It's simple, and as I haven't exceeded my 20GB of free space, it costs me nothing.
Yes someone else has my files. But if I bought a virtual server from a hosting company someone else would still have them, and if I used a single machine at my home, it's susceptible to the whims of my Internet provider, a modem/router failure, and the added complexity of getting and maintaining a static IP address to allow the connections (as well as spending more time to harden and protect that machine as it's exposed to the Internet).