I think you may have missed the thread there. The original point was a response to the question of why layout vendors limit their versions based on a particular board size in linear measurements as a rectangle... and the question was asking whether it made sense to do it by area instead. I say yes, it does make sense to do that rather than say "160mm x 100mm" or some other arbitrary linear measurement.
Yes, it seems i missed the context indeed. I understood your question as asking for such a feature aside from being a means to diversify your product range. My bad...
How long has this industry been this way? How long would you want it to stay that way? And can you imagine the possibility of something different?
I can.
As silly as it may sound, a company's purpose is to monetize whatever products/services/brands/etc. they offer.
I think what we see is the effect of an expansion of a traditionally low volume/high margin industry into a high(er) volume/low(er) margin market.
If you are a vendor in a low volume/high margin market, your business operation is very sensitive to the well-being and success of your small customer base. Naturally, if you see a feasible chance to expand into a market with higher volume, you want to do it because it promises to make your own business more stable. However, while expanding into the new market, you might still behave somewhat like being in your original low volume/high margin market. It will take time - or a "friendly"
nudge from your competition - to change your business behaviour (to make it more exciting, add company-internal politics to this
)