To believe this, you'd have to this we've got at least: - plastic/metal in the same machine - most likely simultaneously unless people are going to assemble it. - home printable silicon, maybe they could ship it in, but I feel like that defeats the point - they could just ship the device then.
Both of these are really hard material science problems that require tons of research.
The process/materials that 3D printing provide can do none of those things right now - probably not for 10+ years. So, I think all these RepRap clone guys who think, like GNU/Linux, they'll be able to go RepRap -> ? -> Replicator, are a bit naive / hyping it.
They should be creating things that compliment the 3D Printer - like a laser cutter like this:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nortd/lasersaur-open-sou...
DEC wasn't wrong about the "cloud" - just way too early and in the wrong environment. RepRap clones are at this point now.
If 3d printers became widespread, we would have databases full of plans made by people and every 3d print wouldn't be a custom one off
As far as the database full of plans: http://www.thingiverse.com/