They are not widespread like cell phones are widespread. They are not widespread like automobiles are widespread. They are not widespread like television is widespread. They are not widespread like six shooter revolvers are widespread. They are not widespread like clock radios are widespread. They are not widespread like cameras are widespread. They are not widespread like hand grenades are widespread.
Maybe they're widespread like bi-planes at the end of world war I. Maybe they're widespread like torpedos at the beginning of world war II. But that still counts as uncommon technology in my book.
The drones under discussion are not a consumer technology, how can you expect them to be as widespread as consumer items like automobiles or cellphones, unless you're looking at toy RC 'drones' like the Parrot AR Drone?
The proper way to map drone proliferation is to count how many countries have them as part of their security forces and what type are being used. Last I counted over 80 countries possess at least one model of drone in their security forces and another 23 at least have active armed drone programs underway. How is that not widespread?
That's without even discussing the dozens of countries building their own military drones, armed and unarmed. There's a tendency to believe that this technology is contained for the moment within US companies, but that has never been the case.
They are not widespread like cell phones are widespread. They are not widespread like automobiles are widespread. They are not widespread like television is widespread. They are not widespread like six shooter revolvers are widespread. They are not widespread like clock radios are widespread. They are not widespread like cameras are widespread. They are not widespread like hand grenades are widespread.
Maybe they're widespread like bi-planes at the end of world war I. Maybe they're widespread like torpedos at the beginning of world war II. But that still counts as uncommon technology in my book.