There was an efficiency program that gave out programmable thermostats to average householders. When they evaluated the program they found that they actually made things worse, because no one knew how to use them properly.

It's not that most people couldn't figure out how to use those programmables right; it's that they didn't care enough (ie, see the benefit) to take the time necessary to learn it.

For people who do see the benefit (I am one of those as I programmed mine in ~ 10 minutes as well), it's much more time and money efficient to use the programmable that came with my house than it is to buy some $250 contraption, install it, sync it, then learn how to use it.

With gadgets, the world is divided into those who love them for their own sake, those who see enough utility in them to invest the added time/money (relative to lower tech alternatives) and those who do not care enough to use the alternates or the gadgets (ie, most of humanity).

Wouldn't it be neat if someone made a programmable thermostat that was easy to use, without the complexity of an internet-connected computer?