I get it, I'm mainly talking about how the historical/economic divide has changed for new musicians... Now a kid can save up and buy a used laptop for $400 and make music with bootleg software, whereas back in the 80s and 90s music could only really be produced and released by sponsored and wealthy artists that had funding to buy gear and studio time. Many don't have even the space to set up a proper analogue rig, for a signed/funded artist space and gear are usually not a problem.
Now the biggest problem musicians have to battle with is just getting around algorithms in order to be seen and heard. :P
True, though the cost of hardware isn't really that much, especially if you're ok with buying Behringer. A lot of the costs of studio setups used to be expensive mixers/reel to reel tape machines and that is certainly better done in the laptop nowadays.
Now the biggest problem musicians have to battle with is just getting around algorithms in order to be seen and heard. :P