Synology's recent drive locking policy has sparked significant backlash among users who feel it undermines the brand's long-standing reputation for reliability and flexibility in the NAS (Network Attached Storage) market. Users appreciate Synology's robust app ecosystem but express frustration over limitations imposed on non-Synology drives. Many commenters indicate they are considering moving to alternatives like QNAP or Ugreen due to perceived customer neglect and profit-driven strategies that prioritize revenue over user satisfaction. Concerns also include poor notification systems for disk usage, leading to user desensitization to critical alerts. Some users lament the nostalgia for simpler systems like Drobo, which they feel delivered a more straightforward experience. On the grander scale, there is a shift towards cloud-based storage solutions as users become increasingly fatigued with local hardware maintenance and its limitations. This post reflects a growing trend where customers are seeking better value and performance from their storage solutions, whether they are local or cloud-based.