Why is so much software so flaky?

Basically because software companies are able to escape liability for the flaws in their products. Imagine what it would be like if automobile companies could escape liability for lethal defects/features in their cars. Well, that’s the position with software today. It follows that if we wanted to make Cyberspace safer the quickest and most effective step would be for governments to legislate to change this. Nice essay on this subject by Bruce Schneier.