Since devices can be owned by the user, a range of business relationships are possible. Some data on the user-owned device can have a different legal status than data owned by a central provider. E2E encryption and separation of ownership can exist alongside capital-fueled consolidation of data.

It's not necessary for edge devices to "win" against centralization, only that they exist and are sustainably funded.

Microsoft, HP and Dell/VMware have device-as-service offerings. There can be many permutations of control planes between local and central, or even regional.