My school had a kid build a computer for the science fair, and our science teacher was like “yeah, you basically just put together an expensive lego set.” and gave him an “adequate” ribbon
In 2003 when I was in high we took a field trip to the international science and engineering fair. This is like the top level of the science fair only the “best” projects should be there. The only project I remember from that trip 21 years ago was the kid with the water cooled PC. At the time it was hot shit and I’m sure had some jank in it.
Are they wrong though? Unless the kid literally assembled his own PCBs, computers aren’t that difficult.